A BRANKSOME beach hut has gone on sale for a “bargain” £70,000, say estate agents.

Daily Echo readers may scoff at the hefty price tag, especially in a climate of constant speculation of a UK housing slump.

But estate agent Alec Fry, from Savills in Canford Cliffs – the agency handling the sale – said: “When you see huts like these sell for more than £100,000 in Mudeford, suddenly £70,000 is not that expensive.

“These huts are seen more of an asset, people buy them as investments. In many ways they are a lot better investments than the rest of the housing market.”

A hut in the same block as the first-floor one on offer at Branksome recently sold for £65,000.

Alec said: “You can wait a lifetime for a chance to get a council one, so if you have a big house down here, people buy them so they can sell it as part of an overall package.

“To have one come on to the market is very, very rare and we expect a huge amount of interest.”

The hut has a private balcony, power, a communal shower and has potential for the installation of an oven.