The Swedish billionaire Stefan Persson, who is the owner of H&M, is reportedly buying an entire English village and up to 2,000 acres of surrounding countryside for 25 million pounds.

Stefan Persson, who is thought to be the world’s 16th richest man with his wealth valued at £11.4billion, is said to be snapping up all of Linkenholt near Andover, Hampshire.

The price includes a neo-baroque castle, 1,500 acres of land and 425 acres of forest, a cricket field and 21 weekend houses for renting out.

An entire village, complete with a cricket club, a blacksmiths and a manor house is to go on sale next week for up to £25 million.

Whoever buys Linkenholt, near Andover in Hampshire, will land its 22 houses, the village shop, a commercial shoot, 1,500 acres of prime farm land and 450 acres of woodland.

The village is in an area of outstanding natural beauty and is to be sold by the Herbert and Peter Blagrave Charitable Trust.