Hotels firm in Herm lease offer

The island has been in the same hands for the last 28 years

A company which owns hotels in Britain and France is among those who want to buy the £15m lease of the tiny Channel Island Herm.

The island, which is about 1.5 miles long and less than half a mile wide, went on the market in May.

The island's owners confirmed that Von Essen is among a number of firms that have made an offer.

Von Essen owns Cliveden, the Berkshire stately home at the centre of the Profumo affair.

It will not necessarily be the highest bidder Adrian Heyworth

Herm's outgoing owners Adrian and Pennie Heyworth will pick a preferred candidate for the tenancy, but the ultimate decision will be made by Guernsey States.

Mr Heyworth said in a statement: "Von Essen, amongst several interested parties, have made an offer for Herm but all negotiations are subject to secrecy clauses, therefore we cannot comment.

"We would, however, like to assure our Herm residents and the people of Guernsey that we are working closely with Treasury and Resources to ensure that we find the right tenant for Herm, and it will not necessarily be the highest bidder."

Nick Renney, of Martel Maides, the agents handling the sale, told BBC News: "Negotiations are at a very, very delicate stage."

He added that a national newspaper which reported that a sale had been agreed with Von Essen had "jumped the gun".

Von Essen was unavailable for comment.

Adrian and Pennie Heyworth have run the island, which has about 60 residents, for the last 28 years.

Mrs Heyworth's father, Major Peter Wood, bought the lease from Guernsey in 1949 with a £15,000 overdraft.