NINE beach-lovers have splashed out £40,000 for a room with uninterrupted views over Poole Bay for the next 25 years.

A quick back-of-an-envelope calculation reveals that is less than £5 a day - although considerably more if you only count the sunny ones!

While the property market is plunging, with bricks and mortar losing appeal, buyers have been snapping up new beach huts on Bournemouth seafront - without even seeing them first.

They measure just 8ft by 11ft, there is no running water or mains electricity. The interior is bare and some may say they look more like glorified garden sheds.

But Ed Sadd, director of Shaftesbury-based Poulton Portables which manufactured the new huts, said: "It might seem unbelievable during a credit crunch but nine people have already bought them blind.

"Buyers won't be able to stay overnight in them but the views over the bay are spectacular and that's what they've paid for; as well as somewhere to hang their swimming gear.

"We're really pleased to have secured this order from Bournemouth council which has kept all our employees in jobs."

A total of 24 new huts will grace the seafront at Alum Chine. As the first three were painstakingly lowered into place by Dorset Crane Hire, technical sales manager, Bob Dean, said: "They weigh about two tons and are all being sold off.

"Nine have sold already for £39,950 on a 25-year lease. They've no facilities but if you're going to have a cup of tea there can't be a better view."

Bournemouth council's cabinet member for economy and tourism, Beverley Dunlop, said: "The new Purbeck View beach huts lead the way in offering a village-type feel while set overlooking our award-winning beach.

"It's great we already have nine buyers and shows that the market is still buoyant. This new development will enhance the whole area.

"A new water play area will also provide interactive water features, a timber sea monster play structure and swan seating."