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The five-month battle for control between the Cherry family and Rock Pacific drew to a close last Friday after Cherry raised his 275p-a-share offer, which had not received enough shareholder backing to be successful, to 280p.

Before the revised offer, investment company Rock Pacific, which owns 28.1% of Countryside鈥檚 shares, said it would block Cherry鈥檚 bid and possibly make its own offer.

Once the Cherry family receives acceptance of the improved offer from 90% of shareholders it is permitted by takeover rules to buy any remaining shares.

After it became clear earlier this month that the Cherry family鈥檚 275p offer was likely to fail, the takeover panel gave Rock Pacific more time to make a bid of its own.

Cherry reacted to this news by improving its own offer. Rock then issued a a statement in which it said that 鈥渇ollowing further due diligence information, Rock Pacific concluded that the proposed investment would not meet its investment return criteria鈥�.

At no point did Rock table a formal offer but by forcing the Cherry family into a corner it has secured a better price for its support.

The Cherry family, advised by Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Merrill Lynch, issued the revised offer document this week.

Rothschild is advising Countryside鈥檚 independent committee. Rock is led by property entrepreneur Paul Kelmsley; its investors include Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy and billionaire Joe Lewis.

Countryside鈥檚 share price fell 6p to 277p, reflecting the fact that a another bid is not expected.