Ever fancied running a bed and breakfast? The London Tourist Board (LTB) is holding a seminar helping local people develop ideas for starting up and taking advantage of a gap in the market.

A spokesman for the LTB said London is an increasingly popular destination for tourists with an estimated 28.3 million visitors last year.

“Many of these visitors have been to London before and are often looking for accommodation out of the main tourist areas and Croydon is desperately short of bed and breakfast accommodation,” he said.

He added: “With such close proximity to central London and excellent transport links, there is a great opportunity for local people to start small businesses to meet the demand.”

The seminar costing £20 per person will take place on Monday, March 12, at Croydon Town Hall. Contact Vicky Morris on 020 7932 2022 for details.