“70% of British enquiries are for Alcossebre,” explains Juan Saborit, national sales manager for the property portal Spanish Home Net  on the Costa Azahar. “They come by word of mouth, and are attracted by the good choice of detached and semi-detached properties in Alcossebre.”

Judi and David Simpson, both 48, from Sheffield, bought a villa in Alcossebre in 2001. The Simpsons, who have two daughters, aged 10 and 18, paid £190,000 for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom villa with a lush, tropical garden and pool, just 10 minutes’ walk from the old town centre of Alcossebre and the beach. They spent a further £30,000 refurbishing the property.

Judi Simpson is very clear about the advantages of buying property in Alcossebre, on the Costa Azahar. “First, it’s down-to-earth and authentic, free of the glitz and pretensions you see elsewhere,” she says. “Here you can just relax and be yourself in a friendly, Spanish environment. Second, it feels very safe, the sort of place where you don’t worry about your kids all the time. Third, there’s plenty to do — at home, at the beach or on excursions, and the kids are never bored.”