While we all know Lyme Regis is a special place and becoming increasing popular with visitors, its profile has been raised even further after it was named one of the 'coolest' places to move to this year.

DT7 has been singled out as one of the county's top hotspots - and it's come as no surprise to mayor Brian Larcombe.

The resort's inclusion in the list complied by The Times has a lot do with the fact that it is a popular filming location.

Dubbing it “Hollywood-on-sea”, the newspaper announced that Lyme was among the trendiest places to be in the country.

The report said: “There has been a steady stream of A-listers parading past Lyme Regis’s sandy strand recently, with the town’s famous harbour, the Cobb, swiftly becoming Dorset’s answer to Hollywood Boulevard.”

Last October filming of Wonka saw Timothée Chalamet in full costume as chocolatier Willy Wonka, walking along the Cobb carrying a cane and a suitcase.

Also spotted were comedian Matt Lucas and Peep Show star, Paterson Joseph. American comedian and actor Keegan-Michael Key also appeared to be at the harbour.

In June last year a production crew descended upon Lyme Regis harbour and the Cobb to film the new feature length film of Jane Austen's 1817 classic Persuasion.

In March 2019, filming got underway for Ammonite staring Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan.

According to The Times, for the best spot for “people-watching” reserve a table at the Oyster & Fish House, headed by the celebrity chef Mark Hix.

Alternatively they suggest grabbing a deckchair in front of the Kiosk beach shack “for a gourmet gelato with a view”.

While some may draw criticism that the popualrity of the area only drives up property prices, mayor Brian Larcombe says ‘it’s much better prices rise than the other way around’.

He said: “The idea that Lyme is a desirable postcode is not a surprise to me with the environment we have here; it is naturally attractive.

“We carefully try to maintain the town but it is desirable because it’s exclusive and so a rise in property value is inevitable.

“Some locals are already riding the benefits of that. The surrounding areas also benefits.”

He added: “We have to not just look at the environment and the area but other factors like employment in regard to people moving here.

“If youngsters want to work, one of the biggest problems here is employment. Much of it is seasonal which is often low pay.”

The mayor says the desirability of the area impacts Bridport and Axminster where people could relocate to live and still reap the benefits of the resort.

Cllr Larcombe added: “Having such a naturally appealing area underlies the desirability and it’s much better to be that than the other way around.”