DEVON couple Stephen and Caroline Sickelmore are hoping to sell their plush four-bedroom home through a raffle.

With the slowdown in the housing market deterring buyers, the pair are hoping to raise the £490,000 it was recently on the market for in an online draw.

Tickets cost £25 each, and the lucky winner will also get other benefits including their stamp duty paid, legal fees and a contribution towards moving expenses, plus an up-front payment of 12 months' council tax of £1,700 for the Band E property.

The five-year-old detached Summer Breeze in Old Gatehouse Road, Dawlish, comes with sea views, split-level design and three bathrooms.

Mr Sickelmore, 49, a dental technician and father of three, said: "A total of 27,000 tickets are up for grabs at £25 apiece — the equivalent price of half a tank of petrol."

If the couple sell all their tickets, their plan will bring in £675,000.

The couple say that 3.6 per cent of the prize fund, up to £25,000, will be donated to Force cancer charity.

Mr Sickelmore said: "Because of the economic climate we had no takers when we put our home up for sale, so we hit on the idea of running a competition with a stake of just £25.

"Whoever draws the winning ticket gets the house. We went into it thoroughly with the Gambling Commission to ensure it was all legal and above board."

According to the couple's website, when customers place orders for tickets, they will also have to answer correctly three questions as part of their entry to the draw.

The couple say they want to sell because they are keen to live in a rural location, probably in Devon.

The draw's closing date is Friday, April 24. To find out more, visit website www. summerbreezecompetition.co.uk.

A similar house raffle competition, advertised by Mid Devon couple Brian and Wendy Wilshaw, has been delayed by the Gambling Commission as it looks into its legality.

The Wilshaw's raffle, for their 11-acre estate in Morchard Bishop, involved answering just one question which was shown on their website.