A COUPLE who took early retirement are set to welcome guests from across the globe to their new bed and breakfast venture in an historic local building.

Gordon and Lorna McGhee have lived in Inverkip for 35 years and recently decided to open their family home in the village, Langhouse, to the public.

The bed and breakfast can accommodate four guests at the moment, however the couple plan to apply for permission to extend the dwellings to include more rooms.

They say demand is already high for rooms.

Lorna, who recently retired from childminding, told the Tele: "When our son Nathan moved out we knew this place was too big for just the two of us, so thought we'd start the bed and breakfast.

"We've got experience in holiday lets in Millport, so thought we would try do something this side of the water.

"We had bookings go in on the first day we opened it up online, we've been inundated with requests so far."

Langhouse was originally built in 1705 and before becoming a family-owned home it served as a hotel in the village.

The couple's other son Darren, who is in the RAF, purchased the property before they bought it from him to keep it as their family home.

Gordon, a former IBM worker who was at the company for 37 years, said: "Staycations are really popular and there is not a huge number of bed and breakfasts operating locally.

"We've been really lucky so far as have met some really brilliant folk, and it's actually great fun getting to do the job.

"The highlight for me is cooking up the made to order full Scottish breakfasts in the morning!"

The couple say they hope to build on the business and offer more rooms in due course.

Lorna said: "The beauty of doing something like this is we can live here in our own house.

"It's been so great to welcome people in, we've had enquiries from all over and bookings are starting to come in.

"We've done all we can to make it a warm and welcoming space and knowing how much guests appreciate it make it very worthwhile."