A Spanish town is offering families a free home and a job in a bid to encourage more people to settle there.
The small picturesque town of Griegos, east of the capital Madrid, is home to just 138 residents, after its population declined in recent years.
In a bid to return to a thriving community the town is now looking to give away houses for rent as well as jobs for workers.
In an advert the Town Hall said: “We offer you work in the kitchen and restaurant for you and your partner at the Paladar de Aragón, located in La Muela de San Juan. Or you can manage the Griegos hotel-restaurant, located in the square.
“If you are one of those who work from home […] You can telecommute and make use of our coworking.”
(Image: Chantejot)
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But applicants must be a family with children so that new residents can attend a local school, which has only nine students.
Deputy mayor Ernesto Agusti was reported to have said he wanted ‘enough pupils in the future so that the school does not close.’
Olive Press reports that he added: “We expected to receive applications from all over Spain, but we have also received messages from all over Latin America, and also from Croatia and Romania.”
The new settlers are being offered three months of rent for free, rising to €225 (£193) a month thereafter, with a €50 (£43) discount per child.
More than 3,000 people have applied already so competition is likely to be tight.
Town mayor Salvador Gil has also reportedly asked for €150,000 euros to update the town’s hostel to “make it more attractive.”
He told local media: “[We want] to convince other people to contribute the lack of professionals that exist in rural areas, such as bricklayers, electricians, plumbers or shepherds.”
A similar proposal was also launched in Italy earlier this year in the Sicilian town of Castiglione di Sicilia.
In that scheme 900 abandoned houses are being offered for one Euro each in a bid to breathe new life into the area.