Dalvene is a well-presented semi-detached home to the south of Carlisle which would be suitable for a family, especially if they have pets who like running around the garden.

David and Joan Beattie have lived there for 22 years and made the move as they had young children and wanted somewhere they could create an ideal family home.

"We don't know why it's called Dalvene but we've kept the name all these years," said David. "This house is ideal for a family. We moved here as we had a young family, our children Scott and Carly, at that time.

"It's also ideal for people with pets as it has a big garden for dogs to run around, we have one dog who loves the garden. We also have the countryside to walk around."

The house was built in the 1930s and is ready to move into. It has a good-sized front garden with parking for several vehicles leading to an entrance hallway.

All ground floors have laminate flooring except the breakfasting kitchen where the floor is tiled.

The Beatties knocked through from the front living room to the dining room at the back of the house, creating a large open-plan room with double doors.

David said: "In the living room we've taken out the old gas fire and back boiler and put in a living flame gas fire into the chimney breast.

"We opened up the two rooms downstairs, which both have bay windows and the original picture rails, so the lounge and dining room is now more or less one.

"It could be classed as two separate rooms as we put in double doors, then we took the doors off and plastered and it's now a big opening, not an arch, so it could be closed off again. We knocked through about 10 years ago. It's still in excellent condition so we haven't needed to refurbish it since.

"We've gone into what was the garage and made a bigger kitchen too. The original kitchen is now a small television room where Joan watches her programmes when there's football on!"

The breakfasting kichen has a range of wall and floor units complemented by a breakfast bar. The ground-floor layout is completed by a conservatory with French doors to the back garden.

Upstairs are two double bedrooms and one single with bay windows in both doubles and open views to the back over countryside.

"We can see from London Road towards the racecourse, you can just see it over Durdar and that area, facing south-west," said David.

"The back garden is 40 yards from the back door to the fence, it's a long garden with lawn, a tree and hedges. It's open at the back to get a better view."

He works at McVities and Joan works at Carlisle swimming pool. The couple are moving as David is hoping to retire within the next 18 months.

"I want something smaller to look after as the garden's quite big. I fancy something easier and also something more manageable for my wife because it is a big house.

"We will miss it, I like the area. It was Joan's idea to move and we've looked at new-builds. We've found one just a few miles from where we live now as I wanted to stay in the area.

"The area is so quiet and peaceful although you are in reach of the town and work. It's an ideal spot. If you like Carlisle you're not far from the city."

Dalvene, Carleton Road, Carlisle, is for sale at £230,000 from Cumberland Estate Agents, tel. 01228 403222.