THE dream of owning a top-flight fruit farm in the local area is in reach, for anyone with around £1.3m to spare.

That is guide price for Hilter Fruit Farm, at Oxenhall, Newent, which has been put on the market through the real estate consultants, Knight Frank.

It is described as "a well-established and highly productive commercial fruit farm", with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a garden, patio and terrace, two reception rooms, outbuildings and 67.5 acres of land, which is classified Grade 1 and Grade 2.

A spokesman for the sale said it was "ideally suited to a wide range of crops including, fruit trees, asparagus, berries and root crops".

The spokesman added: "Set in a tranquil, well elevated position overlooking the farm and the beautiful countryside beyond, Hilter Farm house is of Scandinavian design, brick clad over a timber frame and is a modern, highly insulated, detached 4 bedroom home.

"The farm is in two parts, the land predominantly south or south east facing. The house and buildings look directly over 45 acres of rolling ground mostly planted with a range of dessert apples which include varieties such as Cox, Braeburn and Gala. In addition there are apricot and pear trees, asparagus and strawberries as well as a small area of permanent pasture used by the seasonal work force to park vehicles. There is a further 21 acres of orchards some 800 yards to the south east of the farm planted with dessert apples and a small area of Victoria plums."