A YORK couple were today celebrating their guest house being named in the top 20 brilliant British bed and breakfasts.

Bill and Barbara Dickson, who run The Farthings, Nunthorpe Avenue, Clementhorpe, came under the watchful eyes of the Which? reviewers behind The Good Bed And Breakfast Guide 2003.

Judges praised the couple, who have only been running the business for three years, for their "friendly, easy" style and the way they helped guests plan a stay in York.

Barbara said: "I think we were more surprised than anybody else when we heard, but obviously we are delighted.

"Through the years we have stayed in hotels big and small and so often the staff didn't know anything. We like to offer our guests as much help and information as they want, and we give them a map of York when they arrive.

"Our website has helped as well. It is incredible the response we've had from it, inquiries from all over the world."

The most important thing though at any B&B is the full English breakfast."We like to offer choice and people can have a continental breakfast if they want. But yes, the cooked breakfast is important and according to the comments in the book ours is marvellous."

Updated: 10:56 Tuesday, April 01, 2003