IT’S official – Mersea Island now boasts Britain’s best beach hut.

TV house hunter Phil Spencer visited the island to reveal Betty, the hut in Victoria Esplanade, is the winner of Beach Hut of the Year 2015.

The vintage-style hut, part of the Little Beach Hut Company, beat off competition from thousands of other beach huts across England.

Owner Jane Ashmore met with Phil and representatives from insurance company Towergate, which runs the competition, and was presented with a commemorative plaque and a year’s free insurance.

West Mersea’s beach hut association will also be given £1,000 as part of the prize.

Jane said: “I am genuinely shocked Betty has scooped top prize.

“It’s a wonderful acknowledgement of how much work I’ve put into Betty and it’s heart-warming to see people love Betty as much as I do.

“It is also a clear sign beach huts are an up-and-coming trend and I believe it’s because it reminds us of a simpler way of life which is a far cry away from the manic lives we lead now.

“I really am over the moon and far away on learning that we have won”.

Betty is rented out to people for day breaks, and also let to a number of local charities free of charge.

Jane also gives vouchers to Great Ormond Street Hospital to be auctioned off, raising about £350 a time.

Phil, co-presenter of Channel 4’s Location, Location, Location and one of the competition’s judges, said: “It was an immensely difficult decision to select this year’s winner among the incredible array of entries and fantastic designs.

“However, Betty was chosen for its beautiful decor and its admirable contribution to the community which made it a stand out hut for us.”

Indian Summer, The Daisy Hut and Millie’s Beach Huts’, in Southcliff Parade in Walton on the Naze, and Underwood in Brightlingsea’s West Prom also made the competition’s top ten.

Emma Watson, from Towergate, said: “Betty was the standout entry, not only for its strong links to the community and its charitable connections but also for its beautiful interior.”