Hortifrut berry picking

Wokingham Borough Council is reportedly planning to buy a popular fruit farm to facilitate the building of an outdoor sports facility in its place.

Grays Farm in Heathlands Road in Wokingham was put up for sale in May, and the local authority wants to buy the 64-acre site.

It is next to land earmarked for thousands of new homes, and according to BBC News, the developers would be funding the purchase and development of the sports pitches.

The farm would remain in the hands of the current owners until 2017, though, the news outlet reports.

About 2,500 new homes, two new primary schools, shops and community facilities are being created to the south of Wokingham, in Berkshire, between now and 2026.

Councillor Angus Ross, executive member for environment, said: 'Grays Farm is a popular local business, but when it came on the market we knew straight away that it was a golden opportunity to get hold of the land we need for sports pitches.'

The purchase is set to be ratified by Wokingham Borough Council's executive later today (31 July).