The first couple to buy one of 15 new beach huts on Minster seafront have been given their keys.

Barbara and Colin McLeod, of nearby Scarborough Drive, will not be officially occupying it until April 1.

The couple have a severely disabled son who was hurt while fighting in the 1982 Falklands War.

They are delighted with their purchase and are looking forward to using it throughout the year.

Mr McLeod said: “This will be a real multi-use facility for us what with our extended family all keen to visit us.

“We have seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and I am sure they will love using it.

“Barbara and Claire, our daughters, enjoy swimming and both myself and my son Andrew will get great use out of it for our love of fishing.

“Although Andrew was badly injured over 30 years ago as an 18-year-old gunner in the Royal Navy, he takes great pleasure in teaching other disadvantaged young people about the joys of both fly and freshwater fishing.”

More than 400 people are on a waiting list for one of the new beach huts, which were built following a pilot scheme launched two years ago.

They are being sold for £10,000, with a ground rent of £300 a year.

The prices attracted some criticism recently from renter David Holmes after he received a letter informing him fees to renew his licence would rise from £650 to £950 a year, a figure he said was high given the lack of power and nearby toilets.

Cllr Mike Cosgrove, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “This is a very beautiful part of Swale and so we have been very mindful about not putting in too many beach huts even though there is clearly the demand for them.

“We‘ve had a really successful two-year trial period and we had a very busy consultation where we listened to the views of our residents.

“Yes, £10,000 is a lot of money, but compared to other coastal locations, such as Tankerton for example, we believe we have offered them at a fair price.

“As a council we are also responsible for generating funds, so we can carry on providing excellent services for all our residents.”