A HOLIDAY park which was on the market for around £2.9million has been bought by its neighbour.

Shorefield Holidays announced it had acquired Downton Holiday Park in the New Forest, the neighbour of one of its eight sites.

Downton Holiday Park which had been in the Affleck family for 72 years, started life as a worked-out gravel pit and became a caravan park in 1948.

It covers 3.6 acres near the beach at Milford-on-Sea.

International real estate advisor Savills has completed the sale of the site, for more than the guide price of £2.9m.

Read more: Holiday park is on the market for £2.9million

All current Downton Holiday Park employees and their jobs will be protected and will now become part of Shorefield Holidays Ltd.

Simon Pollock, Shorefield Holidays managing director, said: “There are so many similarities to the core DNA of our business – a family run business with the Affleck family first and its gravel pit origins are exactly like our own beginnings.

“It simply feels like a fortuitous set of circumstances that has allowed us to complete a missing piece in the Shorefield jigsaw that we’ve dreamed of and hoped that one day we would own.

“As we look forward, there’s so much potential with this new addition to our portfolio. We’re truly delighted and proud to be the new owners and over time we will develop what is already a great space and location.”

Read more: Dorset campsite named as best in UK (and one in the New Forest's not far behind)

The sale comes among high demand for UK “staycations” this summer.

Shorefield is preparing to welcome more than 50,000 guests to holiday parks in the coming months.

The acquisition of the Downton park gives the company 74 more caravan holiday pitches and a hire fleet of 24 caravans.

Shorefield said it would look to review and improve its leisure facilities and al fresco dining – both of which it said were always in high demand.

Downton Holiday Park has become part of Shorefield Holidays with immediate effect, all existing 2021/22 bookings will be honoured as normal and guests can book via the Shorefield website.

Read more: The top ten caravan sites in Dorset, according to Tripadvisor

The purchase of Downton Park also follows a significant investment in Shorefield’s holiday accommodation with its treehouse range at Shorefield Country Park launched this spring.

n Shorefield Holidays, has won the itravel Staycation Awards 2020/21, in the Tourism Hero category.

The award comes following efforts to support NHS key workers during the pandemic, taking extra Covid-19 measures and giving back to the local community and affiliated charities.

This year the awards received more than 1,000 nominations across 14 categories.

Shorefield Holidays was crowned the winner of the Tourism Hero category, in a virtual ceremony presented by BBC’s Countryfile Sean Fletcher.