ELEVEN new beach huts in Christchurch have sold for £42,000 each, in the space of four weeks.

The new huts at Friars Cliff beach front all sold within weeks of coming onto the market.

The success of the beach huts follows the sale of 11 other huts at Gundimore Prom, next to Mudeford Quay last year.

These sold for £24,000 each, in just two days.

Some of the Friars Cliff huts were sold to people who were on a reserve list for the Gundimore huts but had not been successful first time round.

Cllr Claire Bath, portfolio holder for the economy at Christchurch council, said: "It shows that what we have done has been a useful exercise and proven that we can raise funds for the council for the future and it gives future revenue as well.

"I know from personal experience there were lots of people who were interested and it makes the beach more accessible as well.

"The impact on the beach itself, is minimal and also raises revenue through people using the car parks.

"It's a very positive development."

Cllr Bath said she was sure following the success of the sale, the council would review future plans for more huts in the borough, but said she was not aware of any plans as yet.

Judith Plumley, Christchurch council's head of community and leisure, said: “The fact that these huts have sold so quickly shows that there is a great demand for people to have a hut in one of the prime locations on the south coast.

“We will continue to investigate other sites where more beach huts could be built so that more people can enjoy our beaches, and the funds generated help to resource other projects and services across the borough.”

Initially, when the plans went to resources committee in 2013, the huts were due to be sold for £20,000.

And there were plans to hire out remaining huts, which couldn't be sold, until buyers were found.

The budget for the 11 new beach huts was £65,000, a spokesperson for Christchurch council said.

And the cost of the project was within that, they confirmed.