A SPA manager has been appointed for the £5.5m Country Club and Spa which is under development at Swinton Park, near Masham.

Emma Franklin is the current treatment manager at Swinton Park and has more than 20 years' experience in the spa industry.

A graduate in hair and beauty from Hartlepool College, she spent the early part of her career working on Royal Caribbean cruise ships, progressing to spa manager on one of the largest cruise ships in the world at the time, the Explorer of the Seas.

She then worked in Japan at the Park Hyatt Tokyo before moving to the Grand Hyatt Dubai for four years, where she was promoted to Spa Director. In 2009, Emma moved back to the UK to be closer to home working at 'A Vita Medi Spa' in Yarm, where she was swiftly promoted to Medi Spa Manager. She joined Swinton Park earlier this year.

The Country Club and Spa will be the only one of its kind in the area. The £5.5m development on the 20,000-acre country estateIt will include an indoor swimming pool, a gym and studio alongside dedicated family and disabled changing.

It will also house a full spa with pre-treatment consultation zone, six therapy rooms, a private therapy suite, a rasul treatment room, three different types of heat experiences, a wellness pool and a post treatment relaxation room.

There will also be a 40-seat conservatory restaurant, coffee shop and Swinton Estate shop, whose customers can enjoy the 200 acres of surrounding parkland, lakes and gardens.

The Country Club will give access to activities on the wider 20,000-acre Swinton Estate including cycling, walking, fishing, clay pigeon shooting, golf, falconry and horse riding.