Luxury chalet - yours for £3

12:03pm Wednesday 24th September 2008

A SOMERSET woman is raffling off her £250,000 luxury Bulgarian ski chalet for £3 a ticket to set up a dog sanctuary.

Michelle Jones from Bawdrip near Bridgwater and her husband Brian want to buy land to build the rescue centre and need to sell their lavish log home in a prestigious ski resort to raise funds.

The couple have decided to take the unusual step of raffling their chalet off as they were finding it too difficult to sell by more conventional means.

Michelle said: “We emigrated to Bansko in Bulgaria in 2005 to semi retire, and built a luxury log cabin near the ski resort.

“Now we need to move to set up the dog sanctuary but selling a house anywhere at the moment is rather a non starter.”

The three-bedroom chalet comprises a games room, luxury bathrooms, terraces and balcony and a hand built stone walled garden, plus it has all the latest hi-tech entertainment systems.

The chalet is set on its own 600m plot overlooking a river and forest with stunning mountain views - and the lucky winner will also boast the likes of golfer Ian Woosnam as a neighbour.

Michelle added: “This really is luxury - it took three years to build and whoever wins the raffle will literally have won the lottery.”

Brian and Michelle, who left Bridgwater several years ago to travel in Europe, will be donating 20% of the money raised to Children in Need and the rest to the dog sanctuary.

Brian said: “We need £150,000 for the sanctuary and any left over will be donated to charity.

“We have been really happy here but it is now time to move on and we have had a great response to this idea so far.

“I can't imagine we will ever leave Bulgaria but if we do it will be to live in Bridgwater - I'm not from the town but it is one of the best places I have ever visited.”

Michelle's parents Rex and Angela Moxey from Cossington aren't surprised by their daughter's ambitious idea.

Angela said: “If you knew Michelle you would understand this. Some people might think they are crazy for doing this but when she sets her mind on something nothing will stop her.

“We have been to the chalet and it's wonderful, we support them both completely and will definitely be entering if we are allowed.”

Click on the related links section on the right to enter the competition.