A family-run bed and breakfast in Lorton has received a huge publicity boost after a special mention on social networking site Twitter by TV’s Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis.

Leading businessman Mr Paphitis has 50,000 followers on his website, and each Sunday he runs a competition in which he selects businesses who compete for his attention.

Jane and Peter Smith and their daughter Kate, of The Old Vicarage, Church Lane, tweeted the millionaire who selected them for a special mention to his Twitter fans.

Mrs Smith, 56, said: “We decided to enter the competition because it is a great chance to widen our contacts and gain maximum exposure.

“We’re flattered that Mr Paphitis picked us and we’ve tweeted him to invite him to stay.”

The eight-bedroom B&B was recently awarded five stars for its breakfast and dinner service from the AA.

It was built in the early 1900s and was turned into a B&B in the 1980s.

The Smith family have run it for five years.

Source: Times and Star