Having spent the best part of 30 years building up their Sheffield-based graphic design company, MM Designs, Mike and Janice Murphy said they chose Scarborough because they spent a few family holidays in the resort.

Mr Murphy, 56, who retired this year and now lives in Barlow in Derbyshire with his 53-year-old wife, said: "We wanted somewhere that was under two hours' drive away from us all."

Scarborough was the first choice because it has large sandy beaches and is currently in the middle of a period of renovation and investment.

Mr Murphy said it was handy to have everything in their Scarborough apartment and chalet.

It was also proving more and more expensive for the family to visit St Lucia.

And their grandchildren – five-year-old Josh, four-year-old Lewis, three-year-old Holly and two-year-old Jack – were happy on any sandy beach.

They bought a top-floor three-bedroom flat at The Sands in Scarborough's North Bay – one of 100 properties on the 55 acre development – which includes retail units, a first-aid station, lifeguard post and showers.

Mr Murphy said he was looking forward to a walk on the beach on New Year's Day and that he had no regrets about putting their villa, which overlooks the calm turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea in St Lucia, on the market.

It was a rundown plantation house when they bought it five years ago and they put a lot of time and effort into renovating the property which has been completed for the past two years.

The split-level villa has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, tiled floors throughout, air conditioning, kitchen, laundry room, a sun deck with pool, wet bar and a lounging area.

The property also has its own housekeeper, gardener and pool maintenance man.