A BUSINESS couple have fulfilled their life-long ambition after selling their five-bedroom semi and buying a country hotel.

Gerard and Deborah Wright, aged 46 and 45, got a six-figure bank loan to buy Langho's Petre Lodge Country Hotel and restaurant, which was once the village's St Mary's Primary School.

They plan to run it alongside their coffee and dolls' house shop in Whalley.

The pair worked at Northcote Manor Hotel, Langho, more than 20 years ago and were married at St Mary's Church.

Now they live in their own hotel after selling their home in Carham Road, Blackburn, near St Mary's Sixth Form College, and moving eight weeks ago.

Gerard said: "This is a life-changing move. We had a nice house in Blackburn but we love Langho's rural location. It's much quieter -- and it's interesting seeing the trains go by.

"The hotel was for sale for 16 months before we saw it, yet nobody seemed to be able to raise the finance.

"As we passed it one evening, we saw the for sale sign. We then spoke to the Royal Bank of Scotland and it was all over-and-done with in a few days.

"We know that it's going to be hard work, but running our own hotel is a dream come true.

"We're working long days at the moment, from early morning to late night. I work six days at Whalley and do nights at the hotel. But I don't have to travel so far to get to work."

Deborah has given up a full-time job with another firm to run the hotel, while Gerard is continuing to run the Poppenhuis Koffie Shop, at Whalley, during the day. It opened three years ago and is named after a Dutch dolls fair.

Gerard grew up Lawrence Street, Blackburn, and attended St Anne's RC School a boy. He met Deborah, who is from Manchester, while working at Manchester Airport.

She said: "Moving here hasn't been as big a change as you might think. I never feel I've really left Langho. We were both at Northcote Manor when it first opened 23 years ago and know the area well.

"I get up at 6.30 and work till after 10.30 at night. But it's really interesting."

One of their four sons, Kristopher, 18, is also working with them.

Gerard said: "When you have a driving ambition to do things, you seem to get more done. It should get easier in time."