HE'S been lording it over the rock world for decades - but could now be poised to lord it over his very own village in East Yorkshire.

Flamboyant Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger was today said to be a front runner in the race to snap up Warter estate, near Pocklington.

One villager told the Evening Press that Jagger, whose wife Jerry Hall had their fourth child in December, has visited the estate twice.

The ancient estate, which includes 11,000 acres of in-hand farm - believed to be the biggest farm worked by an owner in England - plus sporting woodlands, a park and 60 houses and cottages, many of them occupied by farm staff, has been put on sale by its owner, The Marquis of Normanby.

The decision to sell Warter Priory, which was bought by Lord Normanby's late father in 1968 for £4m, follows his wish to concentrate his agricultural interests in the family's principal estate at Lythe in Whitby.

And the asking price for the farm alone is expected to be £38m.

Speculation is rife in the village over who the next owner might be. Famous names including Prince Andrew, Richard Branson and Elton John have been bandied about; however Jagger, 54, currently on tour with the Stones, is seen as the most likely candidate.

Locals report helicopters landing and taking off in the village in recent weeks - adding fuel to the speculation the area is being surveyed by rich prospective buyers.

One villager told the Evening Press: "We have heard that Jagger has viewed the estate twice."

Michael Mylne, parish council chairman, said: "As long as the buyer has the cash to run the place properly, it doesn't matter who buys it."

No one in the estate office was available for comment and Savills, the London agents handling the sale, said Jagger had not officially approached them."

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