A field which helped inspire one of the country's greatest landscape painters has been sold to comedian Richard Digance.

Post Office Meadow, in the heart of Dedham Vale, is featured in artist John Constable's masterpiece the Valley of the Stour with Stratford St Mary.

Situated in the picturesque village, the 11-acre meadow is now considered an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Now Mr Digance, who lives in Hampshire, has snapped up the picturesque area immortalised by East Bergholt's most famous son.

Famed for his comedy songs, Mr Digance will have fishing rights to the field which is also recognised grazing land.

The field has barely changed in the past 200 years - even the same field boundaries and fences remain.

The land is subject to an agreement under the Suffolk River Valleys Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme which wants to keep it unchanged.

The 1820 painting now hangs in the National Gallery in London.

Mr Digance's manager Brian Shaw confirmed today he had made an offer which had been accepted.

"Should it all go through he has absolutely no intentions of altering the field in any way. He knows the area and has visited it many times. He has bought it to make sure it maintains its natural beauty.

"Richard is a keen fisherman and painter and now he has retired from touring he intends to use the land much the same way as Constable did," added Mr Shaw.

Estate agents Fenn Wright, based in Colchester High Street, have dealt with the sale which was thought to be between £65,000 and £250,000.

Spokeswoman for the company Beverley Jones said there had been a lot of interest in the land.

"It went fairly quickly which isn't really surprising because it's a very pretty spot. It also has the added Constable factor which is very attractive," she added.

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