A modern four-bedroom home offers the opportunity for a family to live close to a stunning heritage coastline and in a friendly and welcoming community.

Simon and Rebecca Byrne have been in their St Bees townhouse for almost four years after moving into the area to work as engineers. Simon from Darlington and Becky from Chorley.

When they first arrived, they were living near the Fairladies property in a home owned by Rebecca's parents.

Simon said: "We were living in a flat just round the corner so we knew we liked Fairladies and this house just happened.

"We were told it was going to go up for sale so we put a note through the door and got it that way, through word of mouth and knowing people.

"The estate is very nice and friendly with lots of young families, it’s a good place to live. Our house was built in, I think, 2006, and it’s only a few minutes’ walk into the centre. The beach is about a mile away so it's 15 minutes or so to get down there."

The Byrnes are both keen runners and actually met at St Bees running club. Now the beach plays a main role in their leisure time.

Simon explained: "We go running along the beach, tending to do a loop over the golf course and back. Sometimes we go over the heads of Fleswick Bay.

"We also have barbecues and parties with friends at the beach, it's great for that."

Their home is a three-storey property and on the ground floor has an entrance hall with tiled floor and a cloakroom with tiled floor and walls, along with an integral garage.

On the first floor is a 19ft lounge with feature fireplace and a fitted dining kitchen with matching wall and floor units, integrated appliances - grill and oven, fridge and freezer, dishwasher and gas hob with extractor - tiled walls and floor and double-glazed French doors to the outside.

A good-sized lounge with feature fireplace and a single bedroom complete the accommodation on this floor while the remaining three bedrooms - two doubles and another single - are on the third floor.

The master bedroom has fitted wardrobes and en-suite shower room with wall and floor tiling and spotlights. It is complemented by the three-piece family bathroom, also with spotlights and tiled walls and floors.

This second floor also has access to the roofspace and a useful storage cupboard.

"The living room and kitchen are on the first floor above the garage so we look across to the sea facing west and get lovely sea views," said Simon.

"Since moving in we’ve decorated and put new carpets in and built a decking in the back garden because Becky’s a sun worshipper.

"I like cooking so the kitchen is probably my favourite room although we have a nice living room and when it’s sunny it’s really nice to be up on the deck.

"That’s where we tend to chill out if it’s sunny at the weekend or even after work. Becky probably likes the deck the best. Even though it’s east-facing we get enough sun - it tends to disappear about 7.30pm."

The front of the house has a block-paved area providing a driveway in front of the garage and a path to the front door. All the soft landscaping is at the back, where the couple have completely transformed the outside space.

Simon said: "It was gravelled when we bought it so we put grass down, we’ve put plants in and the deck for Becky to sunbathe - it’s completely different from when we moved in."

He and Rebecca have loved living in Fairladies, close to her parents and the attractions of St Bees but feel that they are now at the stage where they want to put down roots in a forever home.

Fairladies, St Bees, is for sale at £212,000 from Cumberland Estate Agents, tel. 01946 691999.