A TV presenter and hotelier sent in to revive the fortunes of a struggling New Forest country lodge was so exasperated with the owners' lack of enthusiasm that she wanted to "set fire" to the building - just to recreate its spark.

Ruth Watson, aka Five's The Hotel Inspector, was called in by David and Jenny Norbury to boost their ailing Woodlands Lodge Hotel.

The results and the constant disagreements between Ruth and the couple will be seen by millions of television viewers tonight.

Woodlands Lodge's restaurant lost its AA rosette earlier this year, bookings slumped and, with a new £2.6m boutique hotel opening just up the road, David and Jenny appealed to the TV show for help to recapture their lost guests.

But it was an uphill task as straight-talking Ruth ran into continual opposition to many of her ideas from the Norburys and manager John Harper.

Ruth said the overpowering floral wallpaper in the 16 bedrooms was like being "in hell", while the old-fashioned decor of the lounge was similar to women's underwear.

She urged the owners to redecorate and forge links with Gerrard Bassett, who set up the prestigious Hotel du Vin chain and opened the TerraVina hotel near Woodlands Lodge in August.

Ruth described David and Jenny as being too nice and not assertive enough to run a hotel.

At the end of filming she said: "For a long time I have actually wanted to set fire to Woodlands - because I have wanted to see some spark about the place."

A hotel of Woodlands' size should be achieving an annual turnover of £800,000 but David admitted to Ruth that they were taking only £500,000.

On arrival, Ruth was horrified by the old-fashioned decor. Surveying the £206-a-night de luxe suite in which she would be staying, she added: "I want a bit of chic and luxury.

"If I was an 80-year-old living in a residential home in Bexhill-on-Sea, I would probably think this is the height of glamour, but I'm not and I don't."

David, 57, told the Daily Echo that the refurbishment work Ruth suggested was progressing well.

He added: "Ruth has certainly given us a spark and we have already done a considerable amount of redecoration."

The Hotel Inspector is on Five tonight at 9pm.