A £670m deal was completed on Monday as Center Parcs was finally jointly sold to two major European companies.

All 13 of the holiday villages, including Warminster's Longleat Forest resort, have gone in the sale which sees the end of Scottish and Newcastle's 11-year ownership.

Joint buyers Deutsche Bank Capital Partners and Pierre et Vacances exchanged contracts earlier this week, promising that all jobs were safe.

The deal has been rumbling on since Scottish and Newcastle decided to sell the resort chain last February, despite it making an annual profit of about £59m.

Deutsche Bank Capital Partners will be responsible for the UK division which includes the resorts at Longleat Forest, Sherwood Forest and Elvedon Forest in Suffolk.

The deal is still the subject of a review by the European competition authorities, but the paperwork is set to go through by the end of December, sparking a new era for Center Parcs.

Center Parcs spokesman Simon Kay believes staff have accepted the deal and are looking forward to the future.

He said: "Staff seem to be optimistic for the future. They were informed about the sale and have been reassured by the new owners that their jobs are safe.

"In terms of Center Parcs UK, there is going to be absolutely no impact on management structure or on staffing.

"We will be therefore continue to do things we have always done and hopefully expand and go forward."

Center Parcs UK team leader and recently appointed managing director Martin Dalby said: "It will be business as usual, we are confident our new owners will support the business fully."