Valerie Day and her husband Alan celebrate after getting the lease

Alan Day, 70, and his wife, Valerie, 63, said it was "like winning the lottery".

The couple are now lease-holders on one of two long-term leases at Avon Beach, near Christchurch, Dorset.

The hut, which costs �700 a season, has no electricity or water and can only be used from April to September.

"It was definitely worth the long wait, it has been fantastic," said Mrs Day.

We were determined to get one this time Valerie Day Couple's reaction

"We have got it for life, that has been the whole point of doing this."

The couple, who moved to the nearby Highcliffe area from London five years ago, have queued every year for a short-term hut and two years ago were "pipped at the post" for one of the long lets.

"We were determined to get one this time," said Mrs Day.

"It is very tranquil and pleasant. We came down here for holidays before we lived here and we loved it so much."

About 30 people queued up on Monday for the two long-term huts and a number of shorter term lets.