DISABLED and able-bodied visitors to West Devon now have an ultra-modern place to stay after the opening of a new bunkhouse in Princetown.

The bunkhouse is the brainchild of the Prince of Wales pub landlord Terry Brady, who developed the former Jail Ale Brewery which backs onto the pub, into the high-spec and disability-friendly hostel.

Terry decided to make the bunkhouse accessible to wheelchair users after visiting a Barchester Care home and seeing how different the building lay out has to be to accommodate large wheelchairs.

Terry said: 'I went up to one of the care homes where they showed me around. It wasn't until I got there that I realised how different things have to be. It really had an effect on me. There is a huge amount for disabled people to do around here but as far as I know there is nowhere for them to stay — it is very hard to find disabled-friendly accommodation.'

With this in mind, Terry had the bunkhouse built with big doors and level wooden flooring with a wet room, oversized toilets and one room that can accommodate severely disabled people, although anyone can use any of the rooms. Because of this build, he also had to make the pub accessible to wheelchair users.

'It was a lot more expensive to build it this way but I think it's worth it. Neil Francis, who built it, has done a fantastic job. It can sleep up to 21 people, has a living room, kitchen and drying room and is an ultra-modern and really stunning design. We are really proud of it. I'm absolutely staggered by the response we've had since it opened — we've had a massive response just by word of mouth.'

Terry invited Rona O'Donnell, who was taking part in an annual charity walk on Dartmoor with the Barchester group, to officially open the bunkhouse, as she was staying in the facility. The builder's son, Christopher Francis, five, presented Rona with some flowers.