A NEWPORT couple decided to risk it all by selling their home and opening a bed and breakfast business in France.

Lewis and Karen Parry have grown so tired of the rat race that in a couple of months' time they will wave goodbye to South Wales for a more relaxing pace of life.

Although starting a new business is a gamble, cash should not be a problem as they sold their three bedroom house in Malpas Road for £177,000 and have bought a seven-bedroom house in La Chapelle de Brain, in southern Brittany, for the bargain price of £120,000.

You would expect that for this small sum a lot of renovation work is needed, but Mrs Parry said apart from having to make five of the bedrooms en suite, everything was in tip-top condition.

And with a river running nearby, she said they had found their "little piece of paradise". "After 18 months of trying, with disappointment and heartache along the way, we sold our house," said Mrs Parry. "The new house is immaculate - we fell in love with it straightaway. As soon as we walked into it we knew it was right. "The location is perfect - ideal for tourists as there are lots of little villages nearby, and also bigger places, like Nantes. "People are very friendly around there and it's a laid- back way of life."

To pursue their dream, the couple have given up their jobs. Lewis owned his own business, selling batteries to wholesalers, while his wife was a pension administrator for Hazell Carr in Newport. Until the big move they are both doing temporary work for job agency Acorn Recruitment. "We were always going to retire and go to France, but at the beginning of last year we decided we would go early and run a B&B," said Karen. "We love France and go there for most of our holidays. We went over there to find a house, and when we found one we put our house on the market. We were determined to change our lives."

To overcome the language barrier the couple will attend college. "I can speak enough French to get around and it's fairly easy to pick up," said Karen.

Although Lewis, 49, and Karen, 48, are leaving South Wales, they are not turning their backs on the UK altogether as they will return to see their family, including their children Julia, 26, David, 25, and Caroline, 21.

After living in Wrexham, the couple lived in St Mellons for ten years before moving to Malpas. They are currently living with their daughter in Oxwich Grove, Newport. "We've spent a lot of time in Newport so we will miss it and the family," said Karen. "But they are all very pleased that they can come over to France and have somewhere to stay."

Their new business, which will be called Celtic Cousins because of the Celtic links between Wales and Brittany, will open in April - four months after the move.

This will give them time to get everything ready before the first holidaymakers arrive. "As the time approaches I will be a little bit nervous but very excited. We know we will love it out there."

Because of the setting, particularly the river, Lewis and Karen are hoping to attract fishermen and artists. They are also determined to be disabled friendly. "We are planning on converting the garage into a bedroom for the disabled and elderly. It will be a large room with an en suite."