A sea view from one of 14 beach huts for sale in Bournemouth

Buyers have been invited to offer sealed bids of more than £25,000 per chalet on a raised terrace called The Royal Balcony in Durley Chine.

The huts come with a 25-year site lease. At the moment people can only rent a hut site on a one-year lease.

The deadline for sending in bids for the beach huts is 4 April.

"This is the first time we have sold beach chalets and sites for a 25-year lease in Bournemouth so we are testing the waters to see if it's popular with the public," said Chris Saunders, Seafront Services business development manager.

"Currently people can rent a private beach hut site for a one year lease and then they have to erect their own beach hut on that site.

"But beach hut living is so popular in Bournemouth that we currently have a 10-year waiting list for this option.

"They can decorate it to their taste inside, but the outside of the chalet has to conform to specifications."