TWO wealthy financiers have teamed up to save the Zurbarans and potentially turn Auckland Castle into a major heritage tourist attraction, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Evangelical christian Jonathan Ruffer has agreed to buy the Zurbarans for Auckland Castle.

Mr Ruffer, 59, was born in Stokesley in North Yorkshire, believes the masterworks should be put on public display.

It is hoped that there were be several sources of money for the Auckland Castle project, including the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Art Fund and the Department for Culture, but £1m has already been pledged by the Rothschild Foundation, a philanthropic organisation chaired by Lord Jacob Rothschild.

* Read the full story in today's Northern Echo.