The Wales Tourist Board (WTB) has been criticised for leaving an historic house at a popular beauty spot out of a promotional picture.

Thousands of WTB brochures promoting 'The Big Country' feature Rhossili beach on Gower, but the Old Rectory - which almost became the home of Dylan Thomas - has been airbrushed out.

The Old rectory is included on other WTB brochures

The board, responsible for marketing Wales as a tourist destination around the world, has apologised for the mistake.

The house, which stands in fields just above the three mile-long beach, is rented out as a holiday property by the National Trust.

It dates back to the 18th century and is fully booked for the next two years.

Sian Musgrave, National Trust Head Warden for Gower, said: "How can they possibly remove that house from the picture - it is such an important part of the scenery at Rhossili?

"I find it bizarre that they could think of removing it.

"It is the most popular holiday cottage in the National Trust's whole portfolio of properties.

"It is solidly booked up until 2004 - so I would like to re-assure everyone who is looking forward to their holiday that they should not believe what they see in this leaflet.

Dylan Thomas; Considered moving to the Old Rectory

Wales's most famous poet Dylan Thomas considered renting the Old Rectory when he moved back to his homeland in his mid-thirties with his wife Caitlin and young family.

Instead, the poet opted to live at The Boathouse in Laugharne in Carmarthenshire.

However, he loved Rhossili and his short story 'Extraordinary Little Cough' was based on memories of childhood camping holidays there.

He also wrote a prose piece about time he had spent at Worm's Head, Rhossili.

Ruth Ridge, secretary of the Gower Society, said the omission of the Old Rectory was "absolutely disgraceful".

"I am really disgusted with the tourist board for getting rid of the old Rectory," she said.

'Fantastic coastline'

"It is part of the history of the whole area - it was built there so it would be equidistant between the two parishes the Rector served.

"When the National Trust put it into their brochure it was totally booked up on the first day!"

A Wales Tourist Board spokeswoman said: "This omission was not sanctioned by the Wales Tourist Board.

"This same photograph is used on the front cover of the 350,000 View of Wales magazines, with the property clearly visible at the centre of the shot.

"However, the aim of the mailing and of the use of this picture is to demonstrate the fact that Wales has a fantastic coastline and many beautiful beaches and that Rhossili is just one of these."