A COUPLE who have jointly built one of the area's most successful tourism businesses have split.

News of the break-up between James and Sarah Hervey-Bathurst, of Eastnor Castle, had privately circulated for several weeks but was made public on Monday by a tabloid newspaper.

The couple have been married since 1982.

Mrs Hervey-Bathurst, 43, has left the Eastnor estate to set up home in North Yorkshire. The Country Life journalist, second daughter of Viscount Ingleby of Snilesworth, Northallerton, Yorks, has reportedly formed a relationship with one of her father's gamekeepers.

Speaking exclusively to the Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter, estate manager Simon Foster said the "Eastnor family" had been saddened by the development.

"Eastnor estate is a close family and people are very sad to see Sarah go but respect her decision to do so," he said.

"The estate business is on a sound basis but Sarah's input will be greatly missed."

Despite the split, he insisted the business would continue normally, with a full programme of public events planned.

Mr Foster declined to comment on the prospects for a reconciliation but said the couple remain friends.

He said Mr Hervey-Bathurst was "disappointed" at the decision to publish news of the split, which had brought a number of journalists to the estate.

"I think James was disappointed and we have been approached by other organisations over the course of the week but we have not spoken to any of them," he said.

He said Mr Hervey-Bathurst, aged 52, had been forced to prepare the couple's three children, who are aged between six and 15, for the fact that the break-up was about to become public knowledge.

"It was a difficult thing to prepare the family for, other than to say that all such stories are very soon forgotten," he said.

The Georgian Eastnor Castle has been turned into a tourism success story since Mr and Mrs Hervey-Bathurst inherited it at the death of his mother, the Hon Mrs Elizabeth Hervey-Bathurst, in 1988.

Despite the foot and mouth crisis, the castle attracted record numbers of visitors last year and regular events include medieval days, hot-air balloon meets and a steam rally.

It also enjoys a national profile thanks to its appearances on television, most recently hosting BBC's Antiques Roadshow. The castle also hosted the wedding of TV presenter Davina McCall in 2000 and in 1994 was visited by the Duke of Wessex, then Prince Edward, who watched a team-building event as chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards special project group.