BARGAIN basement beach huts along one of the most expensive coastlines in Britain are being snapped up for a mere £7,750 thanks to Christchurch Borough Council.

That £7,750 is a veritable drop in the ocean when you consider many of our local beach huts have been sold for the price of a three-bedroom house up North.

Only last week the Echo reported that a beach hut at Mudeford Sandbank had been put on the market for in excess of £70,000.

Yet just a mile along the coast at Friars Cliff 22 beach huts owned by Christchurch Council are now being sold at 10 times less than that value - and unsurprisingly half of them have already been grabbed by seaside lovers.

And on Saturday the council will be holding a very novel lottery to decide how the beach huts will be allocated to their new owners.

Christchurch Council's leisure services manager, Chris Horn, explained: "All the beach huts are being sold at a fixed price but some of the huts enjoy a better view than the others.

"So to ensure everything is done fairly and squarely we've decided to hold a draw to decide how the beach huts are allocated to owners.

"The draw will take place at the beach and we've invited the chairman of the Friars Cliff Beach Hut Owners' Association to pick the names out of a hat.

"And of course we will be in attendance to make sure it is all conducted properly."

The beach huts currently under construction at Friars Cliff are your bog-standard, seaside postcard image of beach hut.

Unlike their more luxurious counterparts at Mudeford Sandbank you cannot sleep in these 8ft by 7ft simple wooden huts.

But the council still insists they are a bargain.

"It may sound like a lot of money but beach huts just in front of these have been sold for up to £16,000," Mr Horn added.

To find out more about the great beach hut sale contact Christchurch Borough Council on 01202 495000.