A BEWDLEY couple have launched their own dotcom firm - advertising holiday homes for rent around the world.

The site - at www.stayatavilla.com - is the brainchild of Janet and David Block, of Richmond Road.

It was dreamed up when the couple were on holiday in Costa Rica and could find nowhere to rent for a two-month stay.

"A lot of people, like us, prefer to rent self-catering accommodation than stay in hotels," said Mr Block, 63, a former computer consultant who worked for IBM for 20 years.

The website was developed with the help of the couple's son Alex, who runs his own company in Canada.

"It is designed to provide listings of properties in any country in the world - and we already have nine countries included.

"We have had an excellent response from property owners and aim to have hundreds eventually for people to browse."

The site is simply designed, with visitors encouraged to search by country, number of people or cost - down to precise details like whether a highchair is provided. The system then throws up options which can be investigated more closely, including pictures.

The holidaymaker contacts the owner direct through the website to discuss availability and payments.

"The enormous growth in the internet makes this site of great value to an increasing number of people. It provides a direct means of communication between the holidaymakers and property owners."

Currently property owners can advertise on the site for free to help build up the number of homes available but next year the Blocks will introduce annual advertising charges.

Mr Block said the vast majority of the properties had not been vetted and relied on the honesty of advertisers - but if any problems were discovered a property would be removed.

"The site is a vehicle for putting holidaymakers in touch with property owners all around the world," he added.

"One big advantage for advertisers is that, unlike magazine or brochure entries, the details can be updated at any time, while for holidaymakers they can access hundreds and eventually thousands of properties at a single site and speak to owners direct."

Mr Block said he also hoped to persuade Wyre Forest people to advertise their properties as holiday homes and help boost the number of visitors to the region.