AN old RAF airfield site has attracted plenty of interest from buyers.

The plot, which is part of the former Throckmorton airfield site, near Pershore, includes a hangar and an old aircraft standing area. It has been put on the market by government agency Defra.

The land is next to the much larger main airfield site, which is owned by Malvern-based defence firm Qinetiq and was used to bury thousands of animal carcasses after the foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001.

The separate Defra plot – which is the western boundary of the old airfield site – is being touted as having “possible development potential, subject to planning” according to agents Acorus Rural Property Services.

Several informal tenders were received before the cut-off date last month.

Acorus director Ted Rogers said: “We’ve had a very healthy interest in the offer and lots of particulars packs were sent out.

“We’re now discussing getting agreement, and we’re hopeful the site will be sold.”

He said Defra was hoping for a completion of sale by the end of March, before the end of the financial year.

However, the agreement itself may take longer.

Mr Rogers said: “We must agree the contracts and the purchaser must get their finances sorted out, but we’re optimistic.”

He said there had been interest from “remote investors” and local people.

The plot is currently listed as farmland, and in the recent Bishampton and Throckmorton plan most residents favoured the site’s use for farming or as a nature reserve.