THE new owner of Bigbury beach has said he has no plans to develop the popular South Hams beauty spot.

Tony Willis, an international recruitment executive, bought the beach for double its guide price, at an auction in St Mellion, Cornwall, for £70,000.

Mr Willis and his family own a holiday property in Bigbury, overlooking the sea and have said that the recent buy is 'something of a romantic purchase', to continue their love for the area.

Mr Willis said: 'As a family we love Bigbury beach. My three kids surf at Bigbury and Bantham and have enjoyed playing on the beach for many years.

'My wife is from the South Hams so we have a real affinity with the area. This is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire a beach in front of your property.'

He added: 'I have no plans to do anything with the beach, so locals should not be concerned about that.'

The auction was held by Clive Emsons at the St Mellion Resort, near Saltash, Cornwall. Although initial bidding was slow, it became more competitive with two prospective purchasers battling it out, one an adjoining landowner in the room and Tony Willis by telephone, eventually winning the auction with his bid of £70,000.

Nick Wheeldon MRICS director of Waycotts Chartered Surveyors, said: 'When we were instructed to sell this site I decided early on that sale by auction was probably the best method as we had identified several special purchasers who could be interested.

'In order to allow everyone an equal opportunity to purchase this very rare piece of property we approached Clive Emson's Exeter office to enter it into their May auction catalogue. Enquiries flooded in from interested parties countrywide as well as from as far afield as Hong Kong.

'Our advice has proved to be correct and our client is delighted with the result which was of course our main objective.'

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

Locals held concerns when the beach first went up for auction, with many fearing that the beach would be developed and built on, ruining the landscape, with estate agent signs advertising the sale even being defaced in the lead up to the auction.

Bigbury Parish Council are therefore pleased with the news that Mr Willis has no plans for development to the beach.

Chairman of Bigbury Parish Council, Cllr Stuart Watts said: 'The Parish Council and parishioners will be delighted and very grateful if the beach has been saved from developers.'

Mr Willis, who is partner of international recruitment firm, Renaissance Leadership, added of his £70,000, 'romantic purchase': 'It's not every day that one acquires a beautiful beach.'