NORTH-East company Vimac Leisure has invested £150,000 in two log cabins in the grounds of one of its flagship hotels.

Two cabins, built in the gardens of North Yorkshire hotel Crab Manor are opening this week, and mark the latest stage of the hotel's development under owner Vimac Leisure's management.

The cabins are built from imported Swedish logs and include private verandahs with hot tubs, underfloor heating, LCD televisions and large leather sleigh beds. They are inspired by similar log cabins found in Norway and Finland.

Vimac Leisure bought Crab Manor and the neighbouring Crab & Lobster restaurant in 2002, and has used its expertise to grow turnover by more than 20 per cent in less than three years.

This latest Yorkshire investment follows Vimac's January purchase of Whitby seafood restaurant Trenchers and nightclubs Milano and Caf de Paris in Rotherham in August 2003.