ONE of the Cotswolds' top tourist attractions is now in new hands after two friends stepped in to buy it.

Folly Farm, which is home to Europe's largest collection of domestic waterfowl, has been bought by friends Colin Mathews and Jonathan Kenwright, who live just a few miles down the road in Great Barrington, near Burford.

The two have each bought separate parts of the business for a combined fee of just under £900,000 and plan to work together to build on the success of the attraction founded by writer, broadcaster and waterfowl expert Tom Bartlett.

The farm, near Naunton, is home to 160 breeds of ducks and geese and was put on the market in October 1999.

Mr Mathews explained the purchase, saying: "The Kenwrights went to see it because they were looking to move. We weren't really, but they thought it would be nice to have friends living in the house next door, so the whole set-up can be worked with a bit of synergy."

Cheltenham solicitor Mr Kenwright, who is married with three children, has bought the farmhouse, holiday cottage, camp site and lavender farm, while Mr Mathews and his wife, who also have three children, have bought up the bird area and the garden centre. "The two set-ups are definitely complementary," he said.

Mr Mathews, who runs a ski holiday firm, Meriski, said he knew little about waterfowl until he started to look into buying Folly Farm, but said several of Mr Bartlett's staff were staying on.

He said: "The idea is very much to have a look at what we have got and consolidate. It needs a facelift, but it doesn't need thousands of pounds spending on it."

Mr Bartlett, now aged 78, always said he hoped to find buyers that would keep his collection together. He founded it after he bought the site in 1970 and has helped to preserve many breeds from extinction. He and his wife, Diana, have now retired to the Hebrides, but have taken a few ducks and geese with them.