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.

The only building not included in the sale is St Peter’s Church.

Linkenholt has been run by a charitable trust since the 1970s after its last owner, entrepreneur Herbert Blagrave, died without leaving any children.

The charming village is home to 22 houses, a cricket club, blacksmith and a shop.

The residents who live in the village are hoping to stay on and many have lived there for their whole lives.

The monthly price to rent out the property is 500 pounds for a humble house, to 3,500 pounds for the manor house.

H&M, whose full name is Hennes & Mauritz, was founded by Persson’s father Erling in 1947, and since then they have opened over 1,800 stores worldwide.