The Dungeness Estate has which has been in the hands of a family trust since it was established in 1964 is up for sale - it is the only region of the UK which the met office has classified as a desert.

The current owners hope that the sale will "breathe new life" into the largely barren peninsula on the south Kent coast. The asking price is £1.5m for the 468 acre site.

The area's strange climate and desolate landscape have turned it into an unlikely tourist attraction.

The Dungeness Power Station is the largest functional structure on the property, and is visible from most of the site.

The landmass is considered to be of international importance because of its wildlife and vegetation - it is home to over 300 plant types, and one third of all bird species in the UK are present on the peninsula.

According to the listing the land has 22 properties, mostly old railway houses. The power station, a local pub, lighthouses and narrow-gauge railway are not included.

Local residents were unaware that the site was going on the market, and they have expressed concerns about the implications of a sale for residents and the local environment.