A MULTI-million pound price tag was put on a County Durham grouse moor on Monday, when it was put up for sale.

The Muggleswick Estate, near Edmundbyers has been put on the market by agents acting for the owner, Viscount Lambton, with an asking price of £6m.

The estate includes 10,700 acres of freehold moorland, three farms with 1,067 of grazing land and a moorland lunch hut for the use of shooting parties on the moor.

Richard Murray Wells, from Smiths Gore of York, who is handling the sale on behalf of Lambton Estates of Chester-le-Street, said: "It is very rare indeed for a grouse moor like this to come on the market, particularly with freehold land.

"It is fair to say that this is one of the top grouse-shooting moors in the country, with an international reputation. The shooting rights are much prized."

The moor was bought in 1966 by the present Viscount Lambton, who is a keen sportsman, and the shooting rights are leased by the former owner of a national retail chain living in North Yorkshire, who does not wish to be named. That lease expires in 2004.

In a statement on behalf of Lambton Estates, Smiths Gore's David Gray, said: "The decision to put Muggleswick on the market has been taken because Lambton Estates intents to diversify and the sale of the moor will release significant funds to carry out this investment."

Also on Monday - the Glorious Twelfth - another Northern moor at Knarsdale, near Alston in Cumbria, was put up for sale with an asking price of £5m