One of Britain's richest men is said to have bought an East Yorkshire estate for £48 million.

Speculation was growing today that kitchens tycoon Malcolm Healey, 56, and an unnamed US company were behind the purchase of Warter estate, near Pocklington, from the Whitby-based Marquis of Normanby.

Mr Healey, 56, reckoned to be Britain's 109th richest man with an estimated wealth of £220 million, made his fortune through his kitchen business.

He set up Humber Kitchens in Hull in 1976, along with his brother Eddie, and acquired the Hygena brand name in 1981.

Six years later he sold the business, netting £200 million, and repeated the exercise in America.

His brother Eddie Healey, 59, lives at Kirk Ella, near Hull, and is said to be the 39th richest man in the UK, worth £475 million.

FPD Savills, the agents handling the sale, said they would be making an announcement next week.

The sale will put an end to speculation that celebrities such as rock star Mick Jagger and entrepreneur Richard Branson were poised to buy the estate.

Warter includes 11,000 acres of land, a school, community hall, village store and post office, sporting woodland, a park and 63 houses and cottages.

There are about 150 people living on the estate and 30 employees who favoured a single buyer rather than the site being split up and sold in lots.

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