Bigbury beach in Devon sold for £70,000

Beach huts and a retail outlet were proposed by a developer on the beach last year but opposed by local people

One of Devon's most famous beaches has been sold at auction for £70,000.

The freehold of nearly two acres of Bigbury beach went for more than twice its guide price of £30,000 at an auction in St Mellion, Cornwall.

It was sold to international recruitment executive Tony Willis, who said he would not develop it.

The beach is overlooked by the Burgh Island Hotel, a favourite haunt of writer Agatha Christie, and has been a location for several films.

'Rare' purchase

Senior auctioneer Graham Barton said after the sale: "It is not a romantic purchase. Someone has a commercial eye on something happening there.

"There are any number of commercial possibilities, and there are many people with deep pockets who are prepared to take their chance with the planners."

However, new owner Mr Willis, who has a holiday home at Bigbury on Sea said: "I am not a property developer. People do not need to worry about that.

"I love the beach. It is going to be fine.

"It's very rare that a private beach in such a beautiful location comes up for sale. It seemed crazy not to buy it.

"We spend a lot of time there as a family and we bought it because it is one of our favourite places in the world."