A CHUNK of Hampshire countryside is coming up for auction next month.

Nothing unusual in that, except this site is an oil well near Winchester.

The eleven-and-a-half acre site at Hill Farm, Crawley Down, has become available on a freehold basis. The guide price is £350-400,000.

It is currently let to Star Energy on a 22-year lease for oil exploration, extraction and storage from September 2007 on a £51,000 a year rent, reviewed every three years.

The auction by Clive Emson auctioneers will be at the Rose Bowl, West End, on Tuesday, April 15.