TOURISM leader Tony Aldridge is selling his canalside bed and breakfast business but has pledged to continue his campaign to get more people to visit Devizes.

Mr Aldridge has put Rosemundy Cottage in London Road on the market for £595,000 but will be staying in the town he loves.

He said: "We want to downsize from the busy B&B and constraints on time and flexibility, but to remain in Devizes and continue most of our other activities, including attracting more visitors to share our enjoyment of vibrant Devizes.

"We have almost done 20,000 bed nights in just over 10 years since we bought and converted the house to B&B. We have thoroughly enjoyed it and met some great people from across the world, even this week we added an Argentinian to make 45 nationalities stayed."

Mr Aldridge set up the business with Zita Delancey in 2005 and they have won a number of awards. He believes a selling point for the business will be its closeness to the canal and the Wessex Ridgeway.

He said: "We will miss it, but we have many more adventures, maybe writing an article about the joys of B&B? It would be great for it to remain as a B&B. Devizes needs more quality beds, many nights we run out in the area."

Earlier this year he was given a civic award by Devizes Town Council for his tourism work. In 2014 he led the way in getting the town Coach Friendly status and he is working tirelessly to get more coach operators to stop off in the town and to stay for as long as possible.

He and other members of Devizes Tourism Partnership have held conventions to show off the town's many attractions such as the Caen Hill flight of locks, museum and Wadworth visitor centre.

Rosemundy Cottage has five bedrooms and beautiful gardens including an open air swimming pool.