This sizeable three-storey terraced cottage is situated in a sought-after part of Wheelton village.

The property has a 24ft living area, as well as a dining kitchen, two bedrooms and family bathroom.

A sense of tradition has been maintained within the house, with original features including stone chimney breasts, beamed ceilings, wooden flooring and french doors that lead to a ‘Romeo and Juliet’ balcony in one of the bedrooms.

There is also gas central heating, loft access, and outside, there is a stone flagged garden, with steps to the lower ground floor.

For extra security, there is a stone wall on the property boundaries.

Address: 206 Blackburn Road, Wheelton

Price: £187,500

Estate Agent Details: Entwistle Green - 01257 279315

2012 is starting on a positive note for one housebuilder in Leyland, who is reporting a successful start to the year.

The Oaks development, off Golden Hill Lane and developed by Taylor Wimpey Manchester, has seen a surge of interest since the introduction of the Government’s FirstBuy scheme, on top of the success of its own part exchange scheme.

FirstBuy has breathed life into the first time buyer market, offering a lifeline to those without a deposit.

FirstBuy works through a joint loan of 20% from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Taylor Wimpey, which means that eligible purchasers only need put down a 5% deposit and obtain a 75% loan-to-value mortgage.

The loan is repayable at the end of the 25 year mortgage term or when the property is sold.

To be eligible, purchasers must be first time buyers and the total household earnings should be less than £60,000.

This means that, at The Oaks, the starting price for a new home is now £127,995, including a deposit of just £7,999.

A stylish collection of three bedroom semi-detached Croxton and Westerham homes are available with FirstBuy.

Part exchange is valuable to those who want to move but have a house to sell first.

Using part exchange means that Taylor Wimpey will act as your cash buyer for your current property – removing the strain of trying to sell your home on the open market.

Taylor Wimpey will undertake a survey, agree a price and set a completion date, cutting out costly chains and estate agent’s fees.

Anthony Mansfield, regional sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey Manchester, comments: “We want to do everything we can to make buying your new home easy – and to keep costs down for all purchasers.

“The FirstBuy and part exchange schemes have really brought this development to life, and we’re finding that many people are now in a position to buy because of them.

“FirstBuy really makes the difference to those who can afford the monthly repayments on a mortgage but not the hefty deposit.

“With only 80 per cent of the property’s value to finance, buyers will have access to a wider choice of mortgage products and more competitive interest rates.

“Part exchange allows those with a home to sell the chance to relax and look forward to their move, rather than wait for a buyer. ”

Located just a few minutes away from the M65, M61 and the M6, the area is well connected to the North West, while rail connections via Preston provide excellent access to Scotland, the Midlands and London.

Leyland itself offers an extensive range of shops, eateries and bars, as well as a number of popular leisure facilities nearby including Worden Hall, Longton Brickcroft and Cuerden Valley Country Park.

For more information about The Oaks call 0845 672 4187 or visit www.taylorwimpey.co.uk.

Alternatively, you can call in to the sales office on Wheelton Lane, off Golden Hill Lane.

Many agents purport to sell distinctive, top end or ‘cream’ houses as we choose to call them, and at Reeds Rains we don’t just market them; we actually achieve sales for our customers.

It is very easy to say you are a prestige agent and have lovely glossy brochures, sharp suited ‘marketing executives’ and attractive ‘for sale’ boards, but it’s delivering sales that is the tricky bit, and that is where hard work, a dedication to property and an ability to work in all different price ranges come in.

At Reeds Rains we don’t feel the need to employ specialists who only deal with Cream property as each and everyone of our team are suitably trained to be able to support and help any customer whatever their position or needs.

By communicating in the appropriate way to find either a suitable purchase or indeed a suitable purchaser we have built a terrific reputation as the market leader in Chorley and Leyland.

By maintaining a local office presence that sells and lets homes across all price bands you do not need to go anywhere else whether you would like advice on your first purchase, 2nd or even a Cream property of £500,000.

The opposite page speaks for itself, we sold 31 % of property above £250000 and 32 % above £350000.

If you’re looking for a property that stands out from the crowd, then Reeds Rains’ Cream range could be just what you’re looking for.

Launched at the start of 2010, Cream specialises in property that boasts unique features and offer a special, one-off home in a range of prestige locations.

Properties currently on offer include a four-bedroom lodge in Whittle-le-Woods, a four bedroomed detached house in Euxton and a stunning period home in White coppice.

Although there is no particular price bracket for a Cream house, most properties in the range are over £300,000:

Buyers for these properties are not necessarily from the local area, and therefore it needs different marketing.

Bringing Cream’s prestige homes under the Reeds Rains umbrella simplifies the buying process.

Buyers want to buy and sell from one agent, so it make sense to offer these properties within the same portfolio. People don’t have to go to five different places or to specialist agents, they can just come in here.

As we have 200 offices nationwide we have much more reach.

If the right buyer is out there, we will find them.

People are intimidated by prestige ranges. They don’t want to talk to someone intimidating; they want someone on their level.

The special treatment buyers receive when purchasing Cream property begins from the first moment they begin looking.

Cream has its own website with a range of unusual features, including a Google Street View of the property and a huge range of high-quality photographs.

The majority of properties also allow prospective purchasers to take an audio tour, offering a TV-style advertisement for each home.

The exquisite Cream brochure is laminated and features a selection of 11 external and internal photographs to show your home in its best light.

Not only do we take great care and coordinate with you every step of the way during its production, we can offer aerial photography and even add in a blue sky should the Great British weather not be delivering what we need.

There has never been a better time to take the plunge and invest in a luxury home.

Mortgage rates are still the lowest they have been for some time as there’s been no base rate increase for over two years.

Property prices have seen a zero rise in the last 12 months, and as prices fell over the previous two years, luxury houses are more accessible than ever before.

If you’re moving sideways or upmarket it’s definitely the right time to do it.

Food is the best way to a man’s heart so ROBERT KELLY wondered if it was the same for women by taking his wife out.

I always seem to get in trouble every Valentine’s Day...and before you start to ask it was not because I forget to get my wife a card.

Each year I try to surpass my romantic gifts or presents. including getting a bunch of flowers and teddy to be delivered to her in her lectures.

Anyway this was no different as after agreeing to not buy each other presents I decided to get her a card and some roses.

To some that might be not much of a big deal but then I booked a table at one of the first restaurants we ever went to together....Alghero .

We have always had a love and passion for Italian cuisine so I thought that I would not go far wrong by getting a table there.

I had to use all my powers of persuasion to get her to go out for our first dinner as a couple since our baby Eoin was born.

Being Valentines’ Day I was not alone in trying to treat my loved one for all those times I have left my shoes across the floor or the toilet seat left up as we walked to the conservatory.

Even though we were sat in an open space with lots of other couples the owners have obviously taken into account the occasion with lighting giving each table a bit of privacy.

We decided to look at the starters off the specials menu with Carolyn opting for the filo pastry with a hot sweet chilli sauce which started the evening with a bit of a kick.

I opted for the bruchetta which was served with meatballs and a tangy and tasty tomato sauce.

To accompany this we got a tomato garlic bread (£3.75) which was full of flavour but at the same time it was not overpowering with garlic for the breath test after the meal.

At this point, I must admit that my waistline was starting to feel the pressure and I was tempted to loosen my belt.

After scanning through the menu looking at my options I considered the capricosa pizza (£8.25) which was topped with a ham and mushroom.

I even weighed up the Pollo Alla Crema (£13.95) which was sliced chicken with a white wine and cream and mushroom sauce.

Even Carolyn was shocke d when I finally decided on the Tortellini al Proscutto et Funghi (£8.50) which was pasta in a creamy sauce with ham and mushrooms.

As any of our regular readers know that my eyes are bigger than my belly but on this occasion I feel the chef had got the portions right as there was a reasonable serving to accompany the chips that I ordered.

The only drawback was that the restaurant was full otherwise I was tempted to lick the plate of its cream sauce

Meanwhile, Carolyn plumped for the linguine pescatore (£8.95) which was a good option for her as she is a lactose intolerant pescatarian - not eat meat but can take fish.

There were no complaints from her and she seemed to be enjoying her meal while I was struggling with mine.

Amazingly, Carolyn asked if I wanted to a dessert so I did not turn it down and ordered the hot chocolate fudge cake while she went for her favourite sticky toffee pudding.

Both of them went down a treat and I am just glad that there were no stairs to climb to get back to our car.

It is all on one level like a massive bungalow and I think it is a taste of Italy - hidden gem off the M65 motorway.

We will be returning soon after this experience and we won’t be leaving it until the next Valentine’s Day.

Factfile

Name: Alghero’s Restaurant

Address: Bolton Road, Withnell

Telephone: 01254 202222

Food: Italian Cuisine with something for all tastes.

Rating: 10/10

Disabled Access: All on one floor but no disabled toilets

Jezebel – most recognise her as the notorious Biblical figure synonymous with power but forever tainted by her reputation as a treacherous ‘painted lady.’ Is her Old Testament story the truth, partly the truth or just a pack of lies?

The Book of Kings tells us that the Princess of Tyre who became Queen of Israel set off a period of bitter religious and political strife when she persuaded her husband to abandon the Jewish God Yahweh and worship the Phoenician god Baal.

By angering the vengeful Israelite priests, she signed her own death warrant...

Jezebel is the second sweeping and seductive Biblical saga from Eleanor de Jong who has found fertile territory in the ancient Holy Land for epic tales about some of the most controversial women of all time.

She specialises in taking female figures demonised by a history recorded predominantly by men and reimagining their loves and lives for a modern audience.

De Jong’s first novel, Delilah, featured the woman who famously seduced and betrayed Israelite leader Samson, and now she sets her sights on the beautiful and much-maligned Jezebel.

Jezebel, headstrong and determined, is destined to be married by her father King Ithbaal of Tyre as a pawn in a political game.

Led to believe that handsome Jehu, a Judean prince, will be chosen as her husband, she begins an illicit and passionate affair with him when he stays at her father’s court.

But when Jezebel is told she must instead marry Ahab, the middle-aged and shabby King of Israel, Jehu believes she has cruelly betrayed him.

Her destiny now lies with Ahab in Samaria, a city built on a great flattened mountain, where she is resented by her husband’s first wife and the Israelite priests who regard her as a ‘gaudy Phoenician harlot’ with ‘false gods.’

The years pass, and both Jezebel and Jehu nurse their secret. Jehu, unable to relinquish his love for Jezebel, grows bitter and twisted. But he is unaware of Jezebel’s greatest secret – that he is father to her eldest son, Ahaziah, the heir to Israel′s throne.

As her husband’s health deteriorates, Jezebel gradually assumes control of Israel but hatred of her is being fanned by firebrand prophet Elijah, one of the towering figures of the Old Testament, and his terrifying disciple Elisha.

And as they plot her downfall, Jehu circles closer and it seems the die has been cast. Can Jezebel finally take control of her own destiny or has her time already passed?

Grand in its scope and enthralling in its evocation of a courageous and doomed queen, Jezebel will delight fans of both history and romance.

(Avon, paperback, £7.99)