Sheffield animal park may have to relocate due to land sale

The site is home to animals including alpacas, skunks and meerkats

A South Yorkshire visitor attraction may have to relocate after the land where it is based was put up for sale.

According to its website, Mayfield Alpacas Animal Park in Sheffield is home to more than 170 animals including alpacas, reindeer and exotic birds.

The land and buildings are now for sale, with the landowners citing their ill health.

The tenants running the attraction said the sale had come "as a shock" and that relocation was being considered.

The park, which is run by Andrew and Keeley Jonas, first opened in Fulwood Lane, Ringinglow, in 2014 after the couple took over from Nigel and Elaine Sharp.

Mr Sharp said he and his wife had built the site of Mayfield Alpacas over a period of 20 years. They have now decided to sell the land.

Mr Sharp said: "Our decision to now sell follows ill health suffered by us both, and as we are now in our 60s, it is time to take a step back."

He said the couple had hoped to sell to the tenants but this had "sadly not materialised".

'We are obviously upset'

Businessman and zookeeper Mr Jonas told the BBC a purchase had not been possible due to financial constraints.

He said: "We are obviously upset about the situation.

"We will continue to run our business, Mayfield Alpacas Animal Park, which is not included in the sale, as normal."

According to estate agents Strutt and Parker, the sale would include around 17 acres (6.8 hectares) of land, multiple buildings as well as original farm animals, excluding the alpacas.

Exotic species acquired by Mr and Mrs Jonas will also not be included in the sale with Mr Jonas confirming they were looking into potentially relocating the business to another site.

"We will of course update people as soon as we know more with regards to our official leaving date," Mr Jonas added.