A 22-bedroom hotel on the edge of the North York Moors National Park is up for sale at a guide price of £2.8 million.

John and Gill Smith, who have owned and run the Forest & Vale Hotel, in Pickering, for the past nine years, have decided to "move on" and sell the building, parts of which date back to 1787.

Gill said: "We are ready for a new challenge, possibly a new hotel."

The Forest & Vale, which employs 45 staff, has had more than £1 million invested in it by the Smiths who last year completed a four bedroom extension.

Mark Bailey, of agents Knight Frank, reported "a lot of interest" in the hotel, which is part of the Best Western consortium, has a civil wedding licence and a separate staff cottage for up to five staff members. There have already been some viewings.

Originally a Georgian manor house, the building was converted into a hotel in 1950 using traditional local stone.

It consists of extensive and versatile dining and meeting facilities, with public bar and lounge with bistro-style furniture.

The Ryedale room is used as either a meeting room or for private dining for up to 25 people, while the Garden Suite which overlooks the hotel's gardens and terrace, accommodates 120 people or 150 for reception buffets.