Lundy, which has a population of 27 permanent staff, lies 11 miles off the coast of North Devon and is just three miles long and half a mile wide.

Despite its isolated location, current staff say life there is never lonely.

The Landmark Trust, which has been managing Lundy for 50 years, is advertising for two couples to move to the island.

Three of the four people will work as general assistants at the only pub, the Marisco Tavern, and the fourth job is for an island maintenance person.

The pub keeps its doors open 24 hours a day so people can use the payphone, or campers can avoid the rain.

It is also the only building on the island to have lighting after the generators shut down for the night - another quirk new staff will have to get used to in their own homes.

Island manager Rob Waterfield said the biggest skill staff needed was tolerance.

"You have really got to learn to accept people's faults and their idiosyncrasies," he said.

He said the pub was a "massive part of the community" and added: "Everyone meets up, everyone goes. It is a really old-fashioned way of living."

Zoe Barton, 29, who came to Lundy with her partner two and a half years ago, said island life was quite vibrant and it was hard to be lonely.

"Sometimes you want a night in and you have to say 'I want to be alone tonight'.

"You have to be specific or people will keep texting you like 'when are you coming down for a drink'," she said.