A three-mile stretch of Severn Estuary foreshore was sold for more than three times its lower guide price at auction on Thursday.

The stretch of between 800 and 900 acres of tidal land between Newport and Cardiff at Wentlooge Levels had a guide price of between £20,000 and £25,000, and sold for £61,000 after strong bidding in the room and over the telephone at the sale, held by Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions.

The foreshore covers two parcels of land along the Severn Estuary between Peterstone Wentlooge and the Rhymney River Estuary.

The land was being sold on behalf of the Bristol office of Colliers International, which is managing the sale for the Joint Law of Property Act Receivers, Harry Dunger and Jon Cookson.

Keri Harding-Jones, of Paul Fosh Auctions, said: “It is extremely rare for part of the foreshore to come up for sale as most is owned by the Crown Estate. However, in this instance the freehold was owned privately and is made up of two parcels of land which lie along the Peterstone Wentlooge coastline between high and low tide marks."

Roger Thomas, of Cooke and Arkwright Estate Agents, bought the property on behalf of an unnamed new owner.

Mr Thomas, who bid in person in the room, said afterwards: "I can't reveal who the new owner is but what I can say is there will be a continuation of the current use for sporting and conservation activities on the land."

Keri Harding-Jones said: "There was very keen interest in the foreshore property leading up to the sale and there were about six individual bidders active in the room on the night including on the phone. I am very pleased with the result of the sale."

She said: “The land is currently used by the Wentlooge Wildfowl and Conservation Association, whom we understand hold the relevant permission from Natural Resources Wales for their sporting and conservation activities.”

The two sites adjoin the Wentlooge Levels Special Landscape Area and the Peterstone Marshes SSSI. The area is designated a Marine Special Landscape Area. The Wales Coastal Path runs along the shoreline in front of the foreshore.

Jay Ridsdale said: “The land comprises an area of mudflats and salt marshes home to a range of species including wading and migratory birds.

“It is understood to be within the proposed Cardiff Tidal Power Lagoon."