A hotel could more than double in size if councillors approve development plans.

Bowburn Hall Hotel, just off junction 61 of the A1, near Durham, has applied to Durham City Council for permission to build 30 extra rooms, expand its reception area, and create a large meeting room for conferences.

If it goes ahead, the development will mark the hotel's first major improvement in ten years, taking the total number of bedrooms to 49.

It was built as a colliery agent's home in 1923, and was originally known as Bowburn Grange, before being converted to a small hotel.

Manageress Christine Gott said the plans had been drafted in response to its increasing popularity.

"It is such a busy little place and we've had an increase in business from meetings, presumably because the food is good and we don't charge astronomical rates," she said.

"Because of the lovely setting, people like to have their coffee breaks in the conservatory.

"But we need more meeting rooms, which is why we came up with the plan."

The extra conference space would take the form of one large room which could be split up for smaller events.

The hotel also wants to enlarge its reception area and bring in computers.

Ms Gott said: "We only have a small reception desk and it's getting busier and busier, so we need a bigger focal point."

She said the new bedrooms would include some on the ground floor, which would be accessible to disabled people.

"There would be a beautiful glass corridor leading from one building to another and new ladies and gents toilet blocks, as well as better facilities for the disabled," she said.

"Two or three rooms would be specially adapted for disabled people."

Ms Gott said the improvements would not change the hotel's character.

"It's just a lovely building, and we don't want to infringe on it. The architect has designed the plans so that even the ivy plant that climbs right up the front would be left."

Bowburn Hall Factfile

* Bowburn Hall was built in 1923 as Bowburn Grange for the first colliery agent for famous construction firm Dorman Long, Matthew Robson Kirby.

* Its electricity was supplied from a power station at Bowburn pit.

* Mr Kirby developed and built a number of devices for use in the pit in a workshop at Bowburn Grange, including a whirligig air cleaner to absorb dust from around the coal cutting machinery, which Dorman Long claimed credit for inventing.

* A new estate at the back of Bowburn Hall was named Kirby's Drive after Mr Kirby.