Our family moved to this area from Leicestershire in 1990. Leicestershire is very pleasant with many small villages ajoining farmland and hunting country. In fact the Quorn hunt kennelled their hounds in our village (Barrow on soar). However we've always loved the coast and being smack bang in the middle of the country it's inconvenient to go there.

In about 1985 we decided to buy a holiday home in Norfolk but we were spending most of our weekends travelling rather than relaxing. As we had many lovely holidays on the south coast we decided to move, lock stock and barrel. Our children were about the right age, still at junior school, and we were young enough to diversify in our careers.

It was really a toss up between Torquay or Bournemouth. We considered all the things that our family may need. Hospitals, road links, rail links, coastline, open spaces, schools, colleges, career opportunities and the general feel of the location. Christchurch won hands down.

Christchurch Borough Council's motto is "Where time is pleasant" and I feel that to be true. Christchurch is a Priory town with a village atmosphere and people really take a pride in the place.

The gardens and public areas are well cared for. Litter and dog fouling are kept to a limit both by the conscientious public and the efforts of the council staff. This is one of the most startling differences between here and Leicester.