Lord Bath is to step down as chair of Longleat Enterprises, handing over the responsibility of running both Longleat and Cheddar Caves to his son, Ceawlin, Viscount Weymouth.

Making the announcement, he said: "Last year was a remarkably good year for both Longleat and Cheddar with visitor numbers on a par with 2008 and turnover up. I feel that now is a good time for me to retire, although I will still be actively involved in some areas of the business and will still be living in Longleat House."

Weymouth said: "Longleat and Cheddar Caves are amongst the top tourist attractions in the UK and it is my hope that I may follow on in the footsteps of my remarkable father and take both attractions very firmly forward."

He added that "there will be changes" and that he would be be appointing a new chief executive of Longleat Enterprises later in the year.

Lord Bath - Alexander George Thynn - took over the running of Longleat Enterprises from his father, Lord Henry Bath, in 1992.