Viv Morgan was inspired to turn bed and breakfast Northleigh House into a school for troubled youngsters after being touched by tales of pupils who have had to leave mainstream schools due to bullying.

The new centre in Five Ways Road already has four pupils ready to join as well as six paid and voluntary staff.

Mrs Morgan is currently refurbishing parts of the property and is hoping to open the school by June.

She said: "I am extremely excited and we have had so much help since we started planning it.

"The school will be very useful as it is the first rural one and will really help the children who come here.

"I think there should be one in every town."

The 66-year-old has run the ten-bedroom guest house for five years and was inspired to transform it into a Red Balloon Learning Centre in summer 2008 after reading an article in a newspaper left behind by one of her customers.

Mrs Morgan, who shares her home with her husband Fred and their pet sheep and chickens, had been thinking of a way to put the house to better use.

She added: "I am looking forward to having my home filled with young people.

"This school will make a real difference to them.

"Some of the younger pupils may even go back to mainstream schools while others can go on to have good jobs."

The centre is one of four sites in the country which provide teaching and support for 11 to 16-year-olds who have suffered from severe bullying.

The project has been supported by Warwickshire County Council and will have private and council-funded places available for up to 16 pupils.

Last Saturday supporters held a bring and buy sale and raised £240 towards new equipment and classroom materials.

Mrs Morgan and her team have also been given a minibus which they will use to pick pupils up from Leamington, Warwick and other railway stations.

The vehicle was donated by the Duke of Westminster, who previously used it to drive around his estate.

Mrs Morgan added: "The minibus is fantastic and will enable us to collect pupils from railway stations who have come from Coventry, Birmingham, Warwick and Solihull.

We were looking into getting a grant for a bus and can now focus on raising money for other things.

"We had a lot of support and are very grateful to everyone who has helped us."

Mrs Morgan is hoping to recruit volunteers to join Friends of Red Balloon and help with fundraising events.

Anyone wanting to lend their support should call Mrs Morgan on 07789 597704 or 484203.