ONE of the country's premium grouse moors changed hands for the first time in more than 440 years..

Wemmergill Moor, in Upper Teesdale, County Durham, has been bought by pub and fast-food tycoon Michael Cannon.

The entrepreneur, who is originally from Bristol, last night pledged to bring money and jobs to the area.

He also unveiled plans to regenerate thousands of acres of moorland rich in rare species of wildlife.

The 17,000-acre moor, which includes six tenanted farms, was sold by the Earl of Strathmore, the great-nephew of the late Queen Mother, in a deal worth £5.25m.

The moor had been in the Bowes-Lyon family, of Glamis Castle, Scotland, for 444 years.

In December 2003, Mr Cannon, 65, paid £4m for a 40-year lease for the moor's sporting rights.

Since then, he has invested about £3m in utility buildings, upgrading essential infrastructure and gamekeepers' houses and equipment for the management of the grouse moor.

He has also employed and housed two additional gamekeepers.

Mr Cannon hopes to restore 3,000 acres of wildlife habitat that have become degraded over the years.

It is hoped this will encourage several rare species of birds, including the endangered black grouse, to return to the moor.

Mr Cannon carried out a similar project when he bought High Abbotside Moor in Hawes, North Yorkshire, five years ago. A quarter of a million shrubs and trees were planted on the 6,500 acres of moor.

Mr Cannon hopes the work on the moor will help bring money and jobs into the community and the sale has been welcomed by many residents.

Wemmergill Moor forms part of the Lune Forest site of Special Scientific Interest and is a an internationally important Special Area of Conservation for vegetation and Special Protection Area for bird life.

It is also part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.