A NORTH Yorkshire couple are holding a raffle with the chance to win their £500,000 house.

Robert and Avril Smith are offering their Victorian property with a pool in Grosmont, near Whitby, to one lucky winner after the couple decided to move closer to their son Matthew, daughter-in-law and two grandsons in Harrogate.

They had put their four-bedroom property up for sale but after the death of their daughter three years ago, they decided they wanted to raise money for Cancer Research UK by giving away their house through a competition.

Mrs Smith, 68, said: “Sadly, three years ago we lost our beautiful daughter, Rachel, who suddenly died of Adult Death Syndrome. This has had a devastating effect on our lives. We need to move forward and leave some memories behind us.”

Rachel died in Spain where she had moved only three weeks prior.

Mrs Smith also suffered from cancer of the uterus when she was 58. She said: “I had a bleed when I took the dogs out for a walk one day and had it checked out. When I got the diagnosis I was in shock, but I got through the treatment.

“Following the treatment, I had a smear test every six months for five years and was thrilled to be given the news that I was in remission. It’s been ten years since I had cancer and since then we’ve been through so much, we would love to be able to start a new chapter.”

Raffle tickets are £10 and participants have to answer one multiple choice question. There are 60,000 tickets, and participants are able to buy a maximum of 10,000 each.

Mr Smith, 75, said: “Our home would make a lovely family home, or even a bed and breakfast property for someone looking for a new opportunity.

“I’d encourage anyone who thinks it would suit them, to buy a ticket to enter the competition. It’s a win-win. You’d be in with the chance of owning the home at the start of 2019, you’d be helping us move onto the next chapter of our lives and you’ll be supporting a charity close to our hearts.”

The couple will donate £60,000 to Cancer Research UK. To enter visit www.wayh.co.uk. The contest closes on January 2, 2019.