A new experience awaits visitors to the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport.

Dylan's, the health and fitness suite at the resort's golf club, has installed a flotation tank.

The tank was installed at the beginning of May after being shown at a launch in the Via Julia Suite to club members.

Ian Phillips, sports and leisure manager at the Celtic Manor Resort, said: "We have had a good response from everybody who turned up. Around 50% of those who turned up booked three sessions. We knew it would be a good area to go into but we didn't realise how successful it would be."

He added: "We have an exceptionally successful sports club and what makes it different is we look for new items all the time. The flotation tank complements what we have."

Mr Phillips said all the club's staff had been taught how to use the tank. He said: "It's not difficult but we have a large number of staff and each and everyone had their own questions."

When the tank is full of water it weighs around 1.25 tonnes. The water contains Epsom Salts and is said to be five times as dense as sea water. The flotation tank takes up a similar amount of space as a sun bed.

The tank, which cost more than £13,500, was manufactured and supplied a local firm called Floatworld.

The company recently moved from Llandogo in the Wye Valley to the Llantarnam Business Park in Cwmbran.

Bob Roffey, a director of the company, said the firm had only supplied one other flotation tank in Wales although it had clients in Ireland and other countries.

He said: "We hope this will be the first of many."