Kathryn CrossHe has created a paradise home worth �2.5 million in the mountains of Phuket overlooking one of Thailand's most beautiful and unspoilt beaches.Kathryn Cross

He has created a paradise home worth �2.5 million in the mountains of Phuket overlooking one of Thailand's most beautiful and unspoilt beaches.

But Norwich businessman Dennis Bacon is offering a two-week holiday in the exclusive five-bedroomed property for the princely sum of �10.

Mr Bacon, who lives in Thorpe St Andrew, has offered the house, complete with infinity pool and maid service, as a prize in a grand draw as part of this year's Norfolk Dog Day, raising money for the services' charity Help for Heroes.

The holder of the lucky winning ticket will be announced at the event on August 8 at Sennowe Park, Guist, near Fakenham which raised �85,000 for the charity last year.

Being Norfolk Dog Day it seemed only right that the holders of the winning ticket should not have to worry about what to do with their pets while they are away - a two-week stay for a dog or a cat at St Margaret's Pet Centre in Little Melton, near Norwich, owned by Jane and Mick Hawgood, is also part of the prize.

Newly crowned forces sweetheart Heidi, the bulldog who stole General Sir Richard Dannatt's heart at the launch of Dog Day last month, checked out its facilities yesterday with Mr Bacon.

He said as he had a strong family link with the military he wanted to do something to show his admiration for the work the forces do. As a friend of one of the organisers Fee Sharples he put forward his offer which was snapped up.

'My grandfather, who I was named after, was a very key member of our family and was a senior army officer,' he said. 'He served all over the world from Sudan to Palestine and was also a code breaker at Bletchley Park. I grew up with a deep respect for the armed forces.'

Aside from his main work in health and social care Mr Bacon has spent some years developing property and while working in South East Asia he decided to buy some land to develop on the east coast of Phuket, part of a National Park. As his mother had just died it was the perfect place to create something memorable and fitting for her.

'It is a very special place,' he said. 'It is contemporary tropical, minimalist, with lots of glass and open plan living areas. It is actually cantilevered into the mountainside 80 metres above sea level so it has an amazing view over Phang Nga Bay.'

The winning couple will also have the services of a full time maid and will be collected from and taken back to the airport in a chauffeur driven car. �1000 will even be donated towards the cost of flights.

Mr Bacon, 46, said despite the recent troubles in Bangkok there was no need to worry about travelling to Phuket.

'The problems are limited to a small area of Bangkok but the rest of the country is not affected at all. You can even fly straight into Phuket and avoid Bangkok altogether.'

The prize can be taken any time within 12 months of Dog Day but Mr Bacon said the best time to go is between November and April, avoiding the rainy season. Temperatures average at around 35 degrees all year round.

'If you were paying to go there it would cost �800 a day,' he said. 'The whole prize is probably worth �10,000 so buying a ticket could be the best �10 you ever spent.'

Mrs Sharples said that with this incredible prize they were optimistic of raising even more money than last year.

'With Phuket, a massive silent auction, and a President's reception we have a good cushion if the weather does not go in our favour on the day,' she said. 'Last year we raised �23,000 just from the silent auction with only half the prizes that we have this year. But as the event is on the eighth of the eighth, the Chinese lucky number, hopefully the weather will be fine.'

Tickets for the draw cost �10 each and go on sale from mid-June from selected shops and venues throughout Norfolk including the EDP's Dereham office from today. A full list will go on the website www.norfolkdogday.co.uk.

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