A WOODEN beach chalet on the Jurassic Coast has been sold for almost a quarter of a million pounds.

The timber hut at Beach Road, West Bexington, near Burton Bradstock, fetched £235,000 at auction.

It is one of the most expensive properties of its type ever to sell in Dorset.

The new owner, an unnamed local man, won a heated five-way auction held in Sherborne.

The chalet was expected to be sold for around £120,000 and beats the previous record for a chalet from the same site sold earlier this year.

The sale of chalet number 4 has delighted Bridport-based estate agents Symonds and Sampson which marketed the property.

James Pellow, residential sales manager, said: "It was a very exciting auction and the buyer was very determined to get it.

"There were five hands going up at the auction so there is obviously a booming market for these properties when they do appear.

"There is no value in the structure at all really, it is all about the site and the stunning views.

"I don't know what plans the buyer has but the council would not allow the chalet to be demolished and something completely different built."

The felt-roof chalet boasts separate sitting room, kitchen and bedroom and can be lived in all year round.

It has a garden, but according to Symonds and Sampson needs 'general improvement and updating'.

The sitting room measures 2.85m x 2.59m, the kitchen 1.3m x 4.11m and the bedroom 2.87m x 2.62m.

It also boasts a toilet, running water, drainage, electricity, a sink unit and the potential' for off-site parking.

A chalet at the same site - number 9 - sold at auction earlier this year for £216,000.

"That was a bigger chalet and we didn't think we'd get as much for this one," said Mr Pellow.

One of the benefits of the property is that it can be lived in all year round with no time restrictions.

Beach huts sold at other sites often have restrictions about people staying overnight.

Neighbouring chalets on Beach Road have permanent residents but it is more likely the new owner will use it during holidays and weekends.

West Bexington resident Lester Cowling said: "They are quite primitive 1930s-type huts and a lot of the money for them is coming from outside the area.

"I think one was sold about three years ago for about £125,000, so you can see how the market is going."