Six farmer's wives have turned the renovation of an old mill in the centre of a north Wales village into a specialist business opportunity.

Cwlwm, set up in Ysbyty Ifan near Betws-y-coed, provides tailor-made wedding services for couples planning to tie the knot.

The company caters for all wedding needs

The business is housed on the first floor of the old mill, which has just undergone a �100,000 refurbishment.

The building, which is owned by the National Trust, was officially opened by Welsh Assembly Presiding Officer Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas and TV personality Daloni Metcalf last week.

While Cwlwm will work from the mill's first floor, the ground floor will exhibit the equipment used in the mill, and provide information about the mill and the work of the National Trust.

Seamstress Ela Jones, one of the partners in the venture, said they had been looking for somewhere to expand their businesses.

"We were looking for a building to use as a shop window for our different services," she said.

Ela Jones makes hats and wedding dresses

"The mill had been empty for a while and we thought it would be an ideal place so the National Trust, who owns the building, set about finding money to renovate it."

Using the individual talents of the six women, who are all farmers' wives, Cwlwm takes care of costumes, hats, flowers, harp music, invitation cards, wedding cakes, samplers and individual gifts.

"We really hope people will be able to come here to see what we can produce and discuss themes and colours for their wedding," added Ms Jones.

Rural jobs

Peter Broomhead, Director of the National Trust in Wales, said the organisation was excited about the project.

"It is great to see the mill, which was at one time such an important part of life in the village of Ysbyty Ifan, being used again," he said.

"The trust is extremely proud to guide a project which helps sustain jobs in a rural area like this," he added.

The mill had not previously been used since the 1960s, when it provided electricity for the village.

It had been forced to stop producing flour 20 years earlier because of competition from large milling companies.