A RIBBLE Valley hotel and golf complex is to become the first venue to offer golfing holidays in East Lancashire.

Mytton Fold Hotel, off Whalley Road, Langho, already had its own private 18 hole golf course, but the owners felt they needed more bedrooms to be able to offer genuine golfing breaks.

They applied for planning permission to build a 10-bedroom annexe, which was granted by Ribble Valley councillors earlier this week, and now hope to attract amateur golfers from all over the world.

Ribble Valley tourism bosses have hailed the move as a boost for the area.

Already employing 40 full time and 60 part-time staff, the complex owners say the move towards golfing holidays will create more leisure jobs.

Converted from redundant farm buildings by Frank and Lillian Hargreaves in 1982, the hotel complex has grown and the couple now employ their grown-up children Barbara, Carole and David who all have senior management roles.

Its private 72 par golf course was opened in 1994 by then-manager of Blackburn Rovers Kenny Dalglish and now has a resident PGA pro player on hand for tuition.

Mrs Hargreaves, speaking at the planning meeting, told councillors: "This means we will become the only venue in the area to offer golfing breaks.

"We started out more than 20 years ago, converting redundant farm buildings after we had to destroy our herd of pigs due to disease.

"That meant we lost a big source of income so we had to look at alternatives.

"We worked extremely hard and became very successful and even converted land to create an 18-hole golf course.

"However, we can't promote golf breaks because we don't have enough bedrooms to accommodate them."

Her husband Frank added: "Because we are full a lot of the time we couldn't really accommodate people for purely golfing breaks. But this annexe means we will have more room, so can welcome golfers who might want to come for two or three day breaks."

The complex currently has 28 bedrooms, but the new annexe will add a further 10 en-suite family bedrooms.

Councillor Richard Sherras, chairman of Ribble Valley Council's planning committee, said: "Any scheme that promotes tourism in the Ribble Valley is to be welcomedd."

The Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board has also welcomed Mytton Fold's move into golfing breaks.

Spokesman Tony Openshaw said: "With the growing interest in activity breaks Mytton Fold is well placed to take advantage of those golfers looking to try new courses from further afield."