THE plant centre at Waddesdon Manor will be closed at the end of next month.

The centre's shop and café will stay open during the usual winter opening hours until February 28.

There is a 50 per cent sale at the centre until it closes.

A spokesman for Waddesdon said the business has struggled to be profitable as the garden centre world has changed dramatically.

Some events normally held there will be re-located to the manor grounds whilst new locations will be needed for others but all organisers and exhibitors will be informed.

Wherever possible staff will be redeployed elsewhere at Waddesdon.

A spokesman added: "The Plant Centre is a much loved place that is cherished by staff and customers alike and its closure will leave a real hole in life at Waddesdon but it has been necessary to make this commercial decision."

Waddesdon Manor is the third most visited National Trust property with visitor figures of 380,000 visitors for this last year- an increase of nearly 50,000 year on year.

Wakehurst Place in West Sussex is the most visited and Stourhead in Wiltshire the second.