OWNERS of a luxury hotel in the hub of Heartbeat country have slapped a massive £120,000 price tag on the use of the property when Royal Ascot rolls into York.

Rich racegoers keen on a flutter are being asked to dig deep if they want the Mallyan Spout Hotel to themselves for that five-star Ascot week experience.

The 21-bedroom Mallyan Spout, in picture-postcard Goathland, is co-owned by husband and wife teams Michael and Kay Bell and Nicky and Stuart Knight.

It is currently the most expensive property on the ascot-lets.com website, which offers residents the chance to rent properties for next summer's high-profile race meeting.

But Mrs Knight, 36, today told the Evening Press it was worth every penny.

"We are the most expensive on the site - but we are the best."

She said: "We are quite unique and offer a very relaxed, private atmosphere. We call it home from home.

"We saw the publicity about letting for Ascot and thought: 'Let's give this a try and see what happens'."

Attractions at the exclusive hotel include gardens, with room for a traffic-busting helipad, and a top chef on hand for the week. Bed and breakfast prices at the hotel, named after a nearby waterfall and frequented by stars of the Heartbeat TV show, range from £85 to £155 per person, per night.

Mrs Knight said she expected a corporate tenant to snap up the property for the week.

Before the Mallyan Spout hit the web, the most expensive property on the Ascot site was Sutton Park, the stately home, near York, which is available for £32,500.

Updated: 10:41 Monday, August 02, 2004