THE building once vaunted as the region's biggest club for swingers has opened its doors as a conventional hotel.

Plans to turn the derelict Kings Head Hotel in Stanley, County Durham, into The Love Shack, a club for wife-swappers and group sex enthusiasts, were withdrawn earlier this year, after fierce resistance from local residents.

The woman behind the scheme, Viv Archer, has instead transformed the run-down Victorian property into The Local Spa.

It aims to attract people to use its sauna, jacuzzi and steam room.

Yesterday, she opened the doors to show residents that they have nothing to fear.

"It was always my vision that this should be a place to relax," she said.

"If I can relax here after all the adverse publicity this has attracted, then I am sure anyone can."

The bondage dungeons are no more and the saucily-themed rooms have been tastefully toned down.

Each still has a motif, but the likes of the Kama Sutra room have been replaced with the Wild West room, the Bedouin room and the African room.

"We have nothing to hide," she said. This is a small hotel with spa facilities and we expect people to behave here as they would in any other public place. There is nothing seedy here."

To finish off the World War One-themed children's room, she is appealing for unwanted or broken military toys, such as Action Man.

The donor who comes up with the most useful items will win a gift voucher for two people to use the spa facilities.

For further details, contact the hotel on (01207) 281765.