A THRIVING Ramsbottom travel company is tailoring its Spanish holiday breaks for a special breed of Costa clientele. That's single women

They can travel alone or with other females in a group of up to six and enjoy a luxurious one-week holiday in a selection of private villas on Spain's sun-kissed Costa Del Sol.

Clients embrace married, widowed and divorced women, single females and business women who just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of family or business life.

The innovative travel service is the brainchild of former social worker Mrs Jacqueline McMillan who last year launched her "A Company of Women" business from her home in Brooksbottom Close, Ramsbottom.

And to make sure that clients take advantage of all the attractions on offer in Spain, company representatives are on hand throughout to make sure their stay is as enjoyable as possible.

Jacqueline explained: "The company caters for women who want to go on holiday and who perhaps may not have anyone to go with.

"Many single women don't like to travel alone because of all the hassle. We can help them check in at Manchester Airport.

"It's amazing the number of women aged between 20 and 40 who have never flown on their own. "They are then met at the airport in Spain by our full-time company representative who maintains the villas and looks after all our clients."

She added: "During their one week, we will introduce the women to local restaurants and other attractions.

"And if the clients wish, we can be with them for 24 hours a day should anything happen. This service is particularly beneficial for women who have never been on holiday on their own before."

Jacqueline says the clients she deals with come from a wide variety of backgrounds and situations with ages ranging from 28-60.

"Recently, we had one woman who had been looking after her mum until her late 30s.

"She wanted a holiday but didn't know where to go. She came with us to the villa, mixed with a group of other women and had a brilliant time.

"What usually happens is that the group of women, who have never met before, will sit down and discuss what they want out of the holiday. Each group defines what they want."

Her company rents out four villas in the Nerja area of Spain which cater for a maximum of six people.

And for the more sporting-minded clientele, the business also offers skiing holidays in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Jacqueline went on: "I launched the business last year on a casual basis and we did four trips to Spain. But thanks to word of mouth, things really took off and now we are operating full-time.

"It's an ideal opportunity for women to go on holiday and to forget everything at home. It's a real escape, especially for married women who don't have to think daily about preparing a big meal.

"One of our clients was partially-disabled who had previously only been able to go on holiday with her husband," disclosed Jacqueline.

"Going on her own meant she didn't feel she was a burden. It gave her freedom and she was able to go out with four other women.

"Our representatives are always there for our clients. At the beginning, the women will have a welcome reception with champagne and then everyone in the group will try to make plans for the week.

"One of my major mottos is that they meet up in Spain as strangers, but leave as friends."

And she is testament to that adage. For the idea for the business took shape after Jacqueline had gone on holiday on her own.

"I was in a group of eight and I knew two other women only slightly," she said. "The stay was so successful that we all wanted to go again.

"I'm 44-years-old, married and can handle myself. But sometimes you want to be independent and have a break on your own.

"I decided to use my experience as the basis for setting up my own company. I thought the idea was brilliant and wondered why I hadn't thought of it before."