NEW jobs and a boost for tourism could follow plans to develop a family home at Bayton into a cultural holiday centre.

Academic and Shakespeare enthusiast Jackie Miller has been renovating Colliers Hill, a farmhouse dating back to the early 1800s and set in the countryside.

Complete with workshops, conference facilities and first-class accommodation, she is hoping to attract American and Japanese tourists.

"All our projects are aimed at providing job opportunities for local people and attracting overseas visitors and tourists into the nearby market towns," she said.

"I believe I have planned the ideal stage for outdoor productions and conferences.

"Businesses, schools and interested parties are invited to our open day, on September 28, and see for themselves."

Jackie Miller has been working on the project for almost a year but work was held up during the summer following a fire in the drawing room.

"I am full of praise for the local brigades," she said.

"Despite living in an isolated farmhouse, they arrived within minutes of the 999 call and prevented it spreading.

"But there is a silver lining; we have been able to restore the Hollington sandstone fireplace, painted in thick white paint, to its original beauty."

Currently undertaking an MA in Shakespeare and the Theatre at the Shakespeare Institute, in Stratford-upon-Avon, Jackie aims to run bespoke literary holidays specialising in the works of the Bard.

"I plan to take participants to the Stratford theatres and the Ludlow Festival and introduce them to the pleasures of performances at outdoor venues like Burford House, in Tenbury Wells, Berrington Hall, and Witley Court," she explained.

Guest rooms have been named after some of Shakespeare's plays and character key fobs have been carved by local craftsman Andy Pearson, whose work is featured in Ludlow Church and at Acton Round.

The main staircase is decorated with Polly Hamilton posters from past Ludlow Festivals.