From correspondents in London, England, 11:30 AM IST

Mohamed Fayed of Harrods has been awarded a share of the profits from three oil wells beneath his estate in Surrey, England.

He was awarded a nine per cent share of the pound 7 million income the Palmers Wood Oilfield has yielded since 2000 and the same proportion of all future income.

The wells initially produced 9,000 barrels of oil a month, but that has since slowed to just 2,000.

The owner of the Fulham Football Club took the oil company to court on a trespassing charge and seeking compensation after confirming that the pipelines passed through his estate.

Fayed first became suspicious as long ago as 1992 when he spotted a small oil rig near his Barrow Green Court estate in Oxted, Surrey.

His solicitors made inquiries but were told that whether the bore hole passed under the estate could not be revealed for 'reasons of commercial confidentiality'.

It was not until two years ago, when he saw records held at the British Geological Survey, that he received confirmation that the pipes passed under his land.

Awarding Fayed his share of the proceeds, Justice Peter Smith said it was clear the company - which acquired the site from its original owners in 1994 - had avoided revealing what has happening because it expected 'trouble' if he found out.

The tycoon, whose family business empire is estimated at pound 555 million, said 'justice has been done, according to The Telegraph.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)