TEN new jobs, and an improved tourist attraction for the town, have been created by the new owners of Dartmouth Pottery.

Peter Slaney and Jackie Porter are re-opening the doors of the famous Grade II listed building on May 1 after spending £500,000 on buying and renovating the business.

The ten staff already employed at the pottery will keep their jobs and seven more will join them soon. Three more vacancies are expected as the pottery attracts visitors to the town and becomes established on the tourist map.

New features planned by the couple include a restaurant and a showroom for the many new lines which will be introduced. These will be housed in the timbered roof space which has been specially opened up by the new owners.

Another new attraction is to be a potter working on a wheel as a point of interest for the visitors.

The building at Warfleet Creek has had a chequered history since it was built in 1819 as a paper mill by Arthur Holdsworth. In it were printed banknotes for the Dartmouth Bank, run by Henry Holdsworth. When it went bankrupt, the building became a brewery and at one time was used by rope-makers for the Royal Navy.

In 1910 it was left empty and stayed that way for many years. Royal marines used it to lodge in during World War Two before it became a pottery in 1948.

Mr Slaney retired to Dartmouth 18 months ago after selling his publishing business. He spent 25 years working in Sydney, Australia, but always looked forward to returning to the town where he spent his summers as a child in the family's holiday home.

He knew the pottery from his childhood and decided to buy it after purchasing a house close by.

Jackie Porter was a motor broker in London before moving to Dartmouth with Mr Slaney. She explained that recent trips to trade fairs, both here and abroad, have enabled them to find many unusual items which they will sell in the new showroom. 'As well as producing whole dinner and tea services, we are aiming to stock candles, linen, books and other arts and craft gifts.

'They will be up-market, but not expensive items. But the pottery is the most important part of the business and it will continue to be so' stressed Mrs Porter.

Continuing as manager with Dartmouth Pottery, which is world famous for its gurgling jugs, will be Alan Cooper. Mr Cooper has worked at the pottery for 30 years.

He said: 'It will be very nice to go back to creating decorative pottery again.

'The staff are delighted that the business is expanding and their help in renovating the building has been invaluable. Without their hard work we would not be opening on time' said Mr Cooper.

Once the pottery is re-opened, Mr Slaney has plans for an art gallery and arts and crafts centre where local artists will be able to display their products.