A NUMBER of “attractive” bids have been submitted from buyers keen to snap up the former Norton mansion of newspaper magnate Eric Moody.

Final offers for the palatial home set in a 2.6acre plot in Whittington Road, were due in on Monday August 12.

Mr Moody, whose empire included the County Express newspaper and Mark & Moody stationary store, died aged 99 last year, leaving his home to Oriel College in Oxford.

Manchester firm Gerald Eve, is acting as agent for the college, which is selling off the site.

Gerald Eve partner Bruce Owen said: “A number of attractive propositions have been submitted.

“We are in the process of reviewing these bids as we speak and hope we will be able to identify a purchaser in the coming weeks.”

Mr Owen said he could not at present reveal details of how many bids had been received or the nature of proposals, due to issues of “confidentiality.”

The gated property, a barn converted in 1987 to Mr Moody’s design, with buildings set around a central atrium, has fallen into disrepair.

It is being billed as having C3 development potential to become a home, small business, housing for the elderly and disabled or C2 development - a category which covers schools and colleges.

Mr Moody, a Bentley-driving businessman, who stood at six foot three, could often be seen around Stourbridge in his trademark black cape. He never married and had no children.

He took up rowing wile an undergraduate at Oriel College and became a prominent member of the world’s most famous rowing club - the Leander at Henley.

He was a member of Stourbridge rotary club, which was founded by his father in 1922 and was also a trustee of Old Swinford Hospital school from 1948 to 2009.