The Friends' chair said its offer for the mountain is likely to be accepted

Campaigners hoping to buy a Lake District mountain that has been put up for sale said they are confident their offer will be accepted.

Agents for Blencathra’s owner Lord Lonsdale said 11 days ago they had agreed a price with an unnamed buyer, above the guide price of £2.1m.

The Friends of Blencathra, who want to take the fell into community ownership, succeeded in persuading Eden District Council to have the mountain registered as a community asset.

They also said their understanding was that their own agents were still in negotiations with H&H Land and Property, despite the firm’s director John Robson saying: “Prior to reaching this decision we had discussions with representatives from the Friends of Blencathra.

“We have taken into account both their offer and the fact that there is a significant shortfall between this and the successful offer.”

But today, Debbie Cosgrove, chair of the charity that was set up following the Earl of Lonsdale’s decision to put Blencathra on the market, said: “I would like to formally announce that the Friends of Blencathra legal team have today confirmed that our latest proposals have been further discussed with Lord Lonsdale’s agents.

“This is believed by all involved to be of significant interest to the vendor and provides them with an offer so attractive that it is likely to result in acceptance by the lead trustees.

“We anticipate confirmation of this success later this week.”

The mountain is being sold by the earl to help raise cash towards an impending inheritance tax bill.