A NEW business hotel in Melksham has welcomed its first guests. Well House Manor in Spa Road, has opened as a base for people visiting the town for computer training courses with Well House Consultants.

Well House Consultants has been running courses in Melksham since September 2000 and director Graham Ellis decided that as his customers travel from all over the UK, having somewhere for them to stay would be a major benefit.

Initially Well House Manor will be open mainly for delegates, but will take other bookings when no courses are running.

Mr Ellis said: "We've grown every year, and a glut of good local accommodation has turned into something of a famine.

"Well House Manor, which is close to the town centre, has some features that we believe are a first for hotels in Melksham.

"We're the first to offer mini-fridges and laptop safes in all rooms and the first to have a modern keycard entry system."

Well House Manor, which occupies the Edwardian property that was formerly the Old Manor B&B, has been extensively remodelled and refitted over the past four months.

All rooms are now large doubles or twins and have en suite facilities.