One small Cornish coastal town has been dubbed 'Hollywood-on-Sea' following an influx of celebrities moving into clifftop homes. Nestled in North Cornwall along the Atlantic coast, Mawgan Porth was once a quiet haven for locals - now it's a magnet for the ultra-wealthy. Despite its modest collection of shops, cafes and a pitch and putt set beneath dramatic cliffs, stars like Jason Statham and Cate Blanchett are often spotted strolling along the beach.
The town is now full of "Porsches and big cars," says Jasmine James, 25, a cafe assistant at a popular local coffee spot. She explains that "celeb-spotting" has become more common, with many of her customers appearing in Hollywood films. "An F1 driver is just building the house over there," Jasmine tells the Express, pointing toward a conspicuously large structure being erected on the cliff's edge.
"But I've seen and met loads of famous people. I've met Gordon Ramsay and his wife. Cate Blanchett, Olly Murs."
Even though the town has become a celebrity hotspot, Jasmine notes that it has "dropped in numbers" due to the rising cost of staycations, which has discouraged some visitors from coming to Cornwall.
"When I was a kid, it was a more laid-back beach place. Now it's like it's a lot posher with all these bigger cars. The amount of Porsches that come down here - we wonder why they pick Mawgan Porth."
One local couple who work in the town's car park say that while they haven't spotted any celebrities themselves, they've heard plenty of rumours about the famous residents living in the futuristic, Californian-style homes sprawled along the clifftops.
Pointing to an enormous, modern house under construction, the husband claims it belongs to a "billionaire". "It probably cost £35 million," he says, adding that the home reportedly includes a feature where "you press a button and the pool table comes out," as well as a "turning plate for the car".
Other celebrities said to frequent the area include Chris Martin, Jamie Dornan and Gary Barlow, all of whom reportedly holiday in the picturesque seaside town.
Emma Johnson, 54, from Leicestershire, has been visiting Mawgan Porth for 18 years. She, too, has noticed changes in the town. "It's become a lot posher over the years with all the new businesses," she says, referring to the growing number of Hollywood-linked locals.
"It looks slightly posher than it used to do, but it's just such a pretty place." Although Emma has yet to spot the stars rumored to live among the cliffs, she once saw former actor and TV presenter Justin Lee Collins.
House prices in Mawgan Porth have reached a whopping average of £1,250,000 over the last year. Rightmove reports that sold prices over the last year were 20% up on the previous year.
A detached property there costs on average £1,975,000.
Despite the celebrity presence and high-end developments, Mawgan Porth has retained much of its original Cornish charm. "Bodyboarding and pitch and putt" remain two of the main attractions which Emma says she and her family enjoy.
And who knows who you might spot on the golf course.