LADY LONG is selling her isolated home on top of an island on Newquay's Towan beach.

The house, which has three bedrooms and an attic – is on sale for £1.25 million.

The unusual property is reached by a swaying, four feet wide Edwardian suspension bridge which links the island with mainland Newquay.

The spectacular property is surrounded by sea at high tide but is only minutes' walk from the town centre.

Lord Long, 74, a government whip in the Lords from 1979 until John Major's defeat in 1997, moved to Newquay in 2000.

Lady Long says she fell in love with the property, which was originally a tea room, and she and her husband Viscount Long decided to move into it full-time rather than use it as a holiday home.

They were in the process of buying a house on the Scottish Borders, where Lady Long has family, but the deal fell through.

"Then we saw this wonderful house in a magazine and, although we did not know Cornwall, we decided to buy it," Lady Long told the Daily Mail.

They paid £685,000 – and stand to make a profit of £340,000 if they sell it for the current asking price.

Although all the shops are within reach, the now elderly Longs face problems walking along slippery granite steps on either side of the suspension bridge.

"We have decided to sell before this becomes a problem," Lady Long said.

In 2003, Lady Long wrote to Newquay Town Council demanding that it introduce a by-law to end all-night revels on the beach which she said began at about 2.30am when the town's nightclubs close.

The couple said they were not aware when they bought the house that during the summer Newquay is a magnet for young revellers with the energy to surf and swim during the day and party all night.

However, Lady Long denied that she is selling the house because Newquay is too rowdy. "We are not moving because of any problems with the beach," she said.

"These have been sorted out. But anyone thinking of moving here must realise it is a lively place. We are certainly not prudes."

Lady Long said she and her husband would consider moving to "mainland" Newquay and said they have many friends in the town.

"We have made friends here and like it much more than, say, Rock, which is supposed to be Chelsea on sea."

With flights running regularly to Newquay from London, the couple hope The Island could attract a surfing millionaire in search of a holiday bolt-hole.

"Anyone wanting a small income would find it a cash cow too," added Lady Long.

Lord and Lady Long have been running their home as a bed and breakfast for several years – see www.uniquehomestays.com – offering discerning guests rooms for £95 per person and promising spectacular views of the sea and stars at night.