A farmhouse owned by former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has been blown to smithereens to allow for a new mansion to be built in its place.

The building formerly known as Curdle Hill Farmhouse, but renamed Diddly Squat Farm by Mr Clarkson, was destroyed on a series of blasts on Wednesday.

Neighbours are believed to have received a letter warning them of the explosions the night before they took place.

It was reported that a funeral was taking place in the village of Chadlington when the blasts began.

The first explosion took place at about 3.15pm and the building was flattened within an hour.

Mr Clarkson bought the farmhouse in 2012 after it was put on the market for £4.25m.

West Oxfordshire District Council has granted him permission to replace it with a 1,222sqm six-bedroom property.

Craig Hamilton Architects describe it as "a modest country house/gentrified farmhouse which gives the appearance of having grown over time."

It will have an attic games room and a yard for horses as well as a cinema and quad bike store.