County activity centre is sold

A Shropshire-based children's activity centre is under new ownership following a multi-million pound takeover.PGL, which welcomes more than 20,000 youngsters every year to its site at Boreatton Park near Baschurch, has been bought by specialist tour company Holidaybreak in a deal worth about £100 million.

The business, which has 26 sites in the UK and Europe, was formed in 1957 to provide adventure and activity breaks for children.

Boreatton Park is the company's largest site in the UK, with 240 acres around its historic mansion house, offering a range of themed breaks from football and film, to dance and pony trekking.

The grounds include a river, swimming pool, two lakes, a 40ft sandstone cliff for abseiling and one of the longest zip wires in Britain. It is used by more than 300 schools.

Martin Davies, chief executive of PGL - which children call Parents Get Lost - is expected to receive about £10 million from the sale.

He will remain with the business as managing director of what will become Holidaybreak's fourth division, alongside hotel breaks, adventure travel and camping. Carl Michel, Holidaybreak's chief executive, said: "PGL ticks all our strategic boxes and will make an excellent fourth leg."

PGL has 17 sites in Britain, eight in France and one in Spain and last year made an operating profit of £6.3 million on a turnover of just more than £50 million.