Film director Guy Ritchie has bought a Dorset airfield which neighbours his country estate.

The director and actor, who owns the adjacent state to the popular and picturesque airfield, is now the owner of Compton Abbas in Dorset.

A statement on the airfield’s website, dated Friday October 7, said: “Compton Abbas Airfield has been sold by the Hughes family to Ashcombe Estates Ltd, owned and operated by Mr Guy Ritchie.

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“The new owners will occupy the airfield from the 1st February 2023, and they endeavour to take over the running of the business as seamlessly as possible, continuing to provide café and licenced airfield facilities.

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“Clive, Margaret, Emma and Laura would like to thank each and every one of you who has visited and been a part of life at the airfield over the last 34 years.

“Selling the airfield has been an incredibly difficult decision to make as it has been the focus of all our lives for so long, and we are certainly going to miss everyone who made our time there so enjoyable.

“However, we feel that now is the right time to hang up our hats, and we are looking forward to seeing some exciting developments unfold under the new owners.”

The statement said the airfield would continue to run as normal until the end of January, with events including the Aero Jumble and Christmas Fly In taking place.

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Events booked in for next year would still be honoured, and “there will be plenty of familiar faces if you visit from February onwards”.

The team currently employed have been offered positions within the new company.

Director, Ritchie, brought hit crime films Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels in 1998 and 2000’s Snatch to the big screen.

Previously married to pop superstar Madonna, Ritchie inherited Ashcombe Estate after where he once lived with the music icon, after his £50m divorce settlement.

Ritchie, 54, bought the Georgian manor house and estate in the Wiltshire village of Tollard Royal for £9 million with Madonna in 2001 and kept it when their marriage ended seven years later.

The estate is on the Wiltshire and Dorset border.