Lord halts 'whole life' auction

Lord Warleigh had 2,000 replies to a lonely hearts advert for a wife

A lord of the manor has called a halt to an internet auction for his "life" hours before it was due to close.

Lord of the Manor of Warleigh, Plymouth-based David Piper, had put his title, properties and Bentley cars up for sale on eBay.

The eccentric 58-year-old said he was selling everything to move to London for prostate cancer treatment.

Bids had reached £2.9m but he pulled the plug after talks with eBay, amid fears bidders may not have enough cash.

This has been a very tiresome process for one Lord of the Manor of Warleigh

"We had no way we could find out whether the potential bidders had the funds or funding for a proposed purchase," he said.

In addition, conveyance of land in the UK cannot be completed over the internet, and there were no details of prospective purchasers' solicitors.

"As there were over 500 e-mails from various people this week, this has been a very tiresome process for one," David Piper said.

"But one has taken advice from various legal sources and it is expected that a re-listing of all items for sale in lots will be offered from next week, as there has been so much interest."

He said future bidders would be required to have UK solicitors to confirm funding arrangements were in place.

'Independent means'

David Piper hit the headlines in 2002 after placing a lonely hearts advert for a wife in the International Herald Tribune.

It read: "Eccentric Lord of the Manor, 52, seeks attractive 25 to 35-year-old entrepreneurial, intelligent, professional of independent means to become his Lady of Warleigh.

"Mutual interests should include a catholic taste in music, the arts, travel adventure, English humour and fun."

He received more than 2,000 replies to his advert, but failed to find a wife.

Art collection

Earlier this month the lord said he was "quietly confident" of getting more than £4m for his auction lot.

Up for grabs was his manorial title, six acres of freehold land at Great Warleigh Farm, in Tamerton Foliot, near Plymouth, Devon, and the family trust's collection of more than 140 items of contemporary art.

Also included in the lot was a Grade II-listed house on Plymouth Hoe built in 1851, which was recently converted to feature nine en-suite rooms and a sitting room with views towards the English Channel.

Two flats nearby which each have three en-suite bedrooms were also part of the lot.

Two Bentley cars - a Continental Flying Spur and a Brooklands - were also being sold.