Leading Gloucestershire rural agency Bruton Knowles has enjoyed another bumper year and is encouraging farmers and landowners to bring new properties to market.

Rural affairs specialist Matthew Peters said the team had sold in excess of £9m worth of rural property over the last 12 months.

“We have signed off on a number of headline deals from local farmers looking to market a few acres to landowners managing large estates.”

And sales remained steady despite the hysteria over Brexit.

Ben Compton completed sales at Sallywood Farm near Horsley and Tir Conaill at Leckhampton close to their guide prices of £1,300,000 and £1,000,000 respectively just weeks after the vote to leave the EU.

Matthew said: “These deals demonstrate the resilience of the agricultural land sector. Land has held up well – although prices continue to fluctuate - with property on the edge of settlements proving particularly popular.

Amongst the highspots this year was the sale of a former poultry farm at Bulley near Churcham in Gloucestershire for more than £200,000 above the asking price.

Colleague Ben Compton – who has notched a series of successful farm sales - said lifestyle buyers were particularly active in the market.

“The fact all these properties have gone or are going for figures very near and even above the asking price underlines the strength of the current market.”

Ben sold Oxstalls Farm near Tetbury for a sum in excess of the guide of £1,350,000. Woodend Farm at Broom Hill between the Forest of Dean and Gloucester sold in the region of the guide price of £1,100,000 and Bumpers Island Farm, again near Tetbury, also sold well in excess of the £980,000 guide price.

Ben Compton said: “We are seeing healthy demand for farmhouses with buildings and land that can offer everything in one package.

“Whether you own a farm, rural estate, small holding or agricultural land getting the right practical help and advice can help you maximise your property and land value.”