A HOTEL in the centre of Heartbeat and Harry Potter country has changed hands for more than £1m.

The Mallyan Spout Hotel, in the picturesque village of Goathland, on the North York Moors, near Whitby, has been sold by agents Knight Frank.

The hotel is popular with the stars of the Yorkshire television series Heartbeat, which is filmed in the village.

It has been bought by two families, Stuart and Nicola Knight and Michael and Kay Bell. The Knights and the Kays were previously hoteliers in Derbyshire.

Mr Bell said:"We were looking everywhere for the perfect hotel and we have eventually found it.

"We will be undertaking an extensive refurbishment programme which will restore the Mallyan to its former glory and make it one of the finest hotels in the area. We will also be improving its business and conference facilities."

The sale was handled by Knight Frank partner Simon Stevens who said: "The location of this hotel provides an ideal opportunity for the new owners to develop an outstanding destination business, centred around the TV series Heartbeat and the film of Harry Potter, parts of which were also filmed in Goathland.

"This area had benefited significantly over recent years, attracting a great deal of interest from both UK and overseas visitors."

"Knight Frank received a good level of interest from buyers, and with some inquiries from overseas purchasers.

"A sale was eventually agreed of a quoted guide price of £1.1m for the freehold interest, as a business."