A BED and breakfast business has marked completion of its refurbishment with the unveiling of a 20ft tree sculpture.

Andrea, 50 and Darren Almack, 53 of Thirsk, purchased the Linden Tree bed and breakfast in Carlton Minniot, near Thirsk in June last year.

Their first venture in hospitality, the married couple carried out refurbishment works over a period of several months to personalise the site to their taste.

Mrs Almack said: “There were two huge trees and you couldn’t see the property and did not want to get rid of the trees.

"We thought, it would be upsetting locals in the village so we decided to do something a bit unique."

The couple hired a North-East sculptor who spent around two-days carving and sculpting various patterns and designs, including an owl, into the tree.

Mrs Almack said she had been “taken aback” from reactions from passers-by, and school children from a nearby primary school.

She added: “It’s lovely that the children have seen it, I hoped that people would look at it but you just can’t miss it.”

“It’s become meaningful.

"Darren thought I was mad and we have just embraced the bed and breakfast – we love meeting people, I think it has taken off more than what we thought.”