A NORTH-EAST hotel entered a new era by re-living an episode from its colourful past.

The Royal County Hotel in Old Elvet was relaunched yesterday as the Durham Marriott Hotel, Royal County.

The former Swallow hotel became part of the Marriott group when it was taken over in 1999 by Whitbread, which owns a Marriott franchise.

Derek Harvey, general manager, said: "We now have the benefit of the Royal County name and the international hotel name. I think we have the best of both worlds."

The hotel is built on the site of a former coaching inn, a regular stop for the Edinburgh Royal Coach, and a favourite target for highwaymen.

It staged a ceremony in which a giant key was stolen by a highwayman to emphasise the fact that the hotel's doors will be open 24 hours a day.

Guests saw the key taken from under the noses of the Bishop of Durham, The Right Reverend Michael Turnbull, and Century Radio DJ, Paul 'Goffy' Gough.

Whitbread's archivist, Nick Redman told guests some history of the hotel, which started life as a series of houses. It first appeared in the records as an inn in 1820 when it was called The Waterloo Hotel and in 1860 was bought by Thomas Turner who re-named it The County Hotel.

It became The Royal County Hotel in the 1890s, possibly to commemorate Queen Victoria's golden jubilee.

Famous guests include Oliver Cromwell, Sir Peter Ustinov and, more recently, Heartbeat's Derek Fowlds.

Mr Redman said: "The hotel has gone from strength to strength and this is just another chapter in the long history of this property."