The National Trust says it is "hopeful" of buying a mansion described as "the last great Victorian house" after putting in its bid for the property.

The trust's undisclosed offer, for Tyntesfield House, near Bristol, and 150 of the 2,000 acres of its land, has been raised from £1m in public donations and cash from various heritage partners.

The charity's purchase of the late Lord Wraxhall's home would mean the house could be opened to the public.

The house is a 127-year-old, 43-bedroom palace set in 2,000 acres of farmland and woodland.

Chosen buyer

The trust, whose bid was made on the deadline for offers, must now wait to find out if it has been successful.

The sale of the estate, which went on the market in April, is being co-ordinated by FPD Savills on behalf of 19 executors following the death of Lord Wraxall last summer.

The estate agent said it was considering bids and would be announcing its chosen buyer towards the end of June.

National Trust spokesman Geoff Mowday said: "The bid has gone in and we cannot say how much it's for.

The house has retained many original features

"We have no special status and we are just one of the parties.

"Savills have had a number of bids in and now it's in their hands and the hands of the executors."

Tyntesfield was created by William Gibbs, who made his fortune importing guano and nitrate from South America for use as an agricultural fertiliser.

The Victorian entrepreneur used his enormous wealth to turn the modest house that existed on the site into a spectacular Gothic Revival extravaganza.

Mark Girouard, author of the book The Victorian Country House, said: "There is no other Victorian country house which so richly represents its age as Tyntesfield."