AGENTS FPD Savills are reporting a resurgence of the country house market in the build-up to Christmas - and one in which local buyers have been outbidding those from London.

Fairview Cottage in the village of Preston Candover (pictured above) was one of the properties that sold to an existing Hampshire resident.

It went under offer with a price guide of £425,000, after 20 viewings and two offers in just four days.

The oldest part of Fairview Cottage is brick and flint and it was extended in 1970. It is thought to have been originally built as two cottages in about 1800.

It features a large reception hall, which can be used as a room. The hall has an opening to the dining room and a door through to the sitting room.

The kitchen is adjoined by a pantry and boot room and three of the five bedrooms share a bathroom on the ground floor.

Two more bedrooms are located on the first floor where they share a cloakroom which has the potential to create a shower room.

A detached double garage has been divided to create stabling and its boarded loft space has scope to create more living accommodation.

The lawned south-facing gardens of Fairview Cottage have far-reaching views over land belonging to The Moundsmere Estate.