Sunny Italian region will pay you £26,000 to move there as long as you’re the right age

We've all dreamt of packing our bags and jetting off to live la Dolce Vita in the sunshine.

But imagine getting paid to relocate to Italy and spend your days soaking up the sunshine.

Now that's a tempting offer.

Most people wouldn't need much persuading to escape the UK's miserable weather in exchange for soaring temperatures - not to mention the food as well.

But there is a catch - you have to be a certain age to be eligible for the active residency income scheme.

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If you're under 40, then you can receive a hefty amount of cash if you take the plunge and move to Calabria.

The region is known as Italy's 'toe' as it sits at the pointy end of the boot-shaped peninsula.

Calabria is littered with picture-postcard beaches and breathtaking mountains for you to unwind at - with all the beauty of the Amalfi Coast but without the chaos.

And the region is calling out for people to move there - and have offered up a £26,000 incentive.

But as well as soaking up the culture, you will also need to hold up your end of the bargain to live there.

First, you need to be willing to take the leap within just 90 days - so you might have to scrap the idea of a leaving do.

As well as being under 40, you need to have a bit of a business brain on you too.

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Officials want people to breathe new life into small communities across Calabria and give the local economy a much-needed boost.

So, you will either need to start up a new business that will benefit residents or find take up one of the jobs that need filling.

There are plenty of positions going at restaurants, bed and breakfasts, hotels and shops.

And those who make the move may be paid in monthly instalments of up to £1,000 over a period of three years.

Others may receive the money as a one-off lump sum to help them fund starting up a new business.

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Successful applications will live in villages with around 2,000 residents or less.

Councillor Gianluca Gallo cooked up the idea to stop these small municipalities, 'which are the true identity of the territory' from declining.

He said: "We want to make demand for jobs meet supply, that’s why we’ve asked villages to tell us what type of professionals they’re missing to attract specific workers.

"We’ve had a huge interest from villages and hopefully, if this first scheme works, more are likely to follow in coming years."

Around £620,000 has been set aside for the active residency income scheme for successful candidates to get their hands on.

Have a look at this handy guide for more information about making the move to Italy.