SEDUCTIVE shots of rolling hills and quaint cobbled streets aired during Sedbergh's recent slot on prime time television has seen demand for Dales properties soar.

An unexpected spin-off of the BBC2 show documenting Sedbergh's search for a twin town has been an upsurge in homes both to buy and to let in the picture-postcard village.

Owner of Cobble County estate agents Nigel Close described demand for properties as "brilliant" since the airing of The Town That Wants A Twin.

Mr Close said that following his appearance on the show, when he allowed French ambassador Fleur to show prospective buyers around two Garsdale Road flats, he had been inundated with interest.

"People were ringing up after we'd been on the show asking if the flats had gone yet," he said. "We have had a lot of interest off the back of the show for holiday lettings and to buy. The demand is brilliant and the experience for us has been very good. Now we just need to get more properties on our books."

Sedbergh's search for a soulmate has been captured in a 12-part series that documented ambassadors from four different countries trying to woo the town. Prospective beaus' included Eymet, in France; Athienou, in Cyprus; and Seefeld, in Austria; but it was the Slovenian town of Zrece that finally found favour with Sedbergh.

l The average price of a two-bedroom new-build home in Sedbergh is between £160,000-£170,000, while a two-bedroom cottage is around £200,000-£230,000.