Great Leighs racecourse sale off

The all-weather course in Essex opened in April 2008

A planned sale of Great Leighs racecourse in Essex has fallen through.

Administrators Deloitte said Terry Chambers, who owns Ashfields Carriage and Polo Club in Essex, had withdrawn his offer.

A spokesman for Deloitte said they had approached a number of other interested parties in the hope the sale would still go through.

The course opened in April 2008 and was placed into administration on 16 January.

The all-weather course was Britain's first new racecourse in 81 years.

The spokesman said: "As the exclusivity agreement entered into with Mr Chambers has now expired, the Joint Administrators have approached a number of other interested parties in an attempt to secure a third party sale and negotiations in this regard are continuing.

"The Joint Administrators are, in parallel, also continuing in their discussions with The Royal Bank of Scotland as the main creditors for the Essex County Showground Limited."

The British Horseracing Authority confirmed a licence must be in place for the track by 28 May in order for it to be eligible to bid for fixtures in the 2010 calendar.