Wayne Munnelly is settling in to his dream job.

The 35-year-old has been given a licence to fall asleep on the job in his new position at hotel chain Travelodge.

He is now being paid £60,000 a year as director of sleep - in the first job of its kind.

His aim is to make sure the chain's six million customers a year get the perfect night's sleep.

The role has even seen his office turned into a replica of a Travelodge room complete with bed.

Mr Munnelly said: "I'll be testing rooms myself and visiting all 17,000.

"We are opening 43 hotels this year and I will be checking them all.

"There must be thousands of people out there who would have loved the idea of sleeping for a living but I know my role is going to be demanding. Getting the balance right to deliver a sound night's sleep is close to science.

"My job is to make sure Travelodge customers get the best night's sleep possible for a tenner. If guests leave a Travelodge feeling sluggish and drowsy, I won't have done my job."

Mr Munnelly has spent the past two-and-a-half years as area director for the chain's 26 hotels in the North East.

His region achieved the best performance rating for service and standards and had the fewest complaints in the company.

Travelodge has made the appointment because it wants to perfect the "art of sleep".

Mr Munnelly will be travelling around the country working his way through the company's beds.

The sleep tsar will look at everything that can impact on a guest's sleep, from tension in mattresses and the spring in each pillow to the intensity of room lighting and soundproofing between rooms.

He will be bringing in Feng Shui experts to create a more relaxing and sleep-inducing environment, and colour therapists will also assess whether the paints used are soothing enough.

Even the tea and coffee on offer will be switched if he can find a more suitable brand.

The next step for Mr Munnelly, of Bailiff Bridge, near Brighouse, is penning a guide to a good night's rest.

"The reason why we have created this position is because our bread and butter is our bedrooms and it's important our guests have a good night's sleep.

"We class ourselves as retailers of sleep," he said.