A hotel in Newscastel has replaced copies of the traditional Gideon Bible placed in each of its 148 rooms with a Kindle pre-loaded with the book.

Hotel Indigo made the change in its policy beginning Monday, claiming to be the first in Britain to offer such a service, The Telegraph reports.

Adam Munday, the hotel's general manager, says it is in line with Newcastle's literary heritage.

"In the 18th century, Newcastle was one of the largest print centres in Britain and we're in Grainger Town, close to the Literary and Philosophical Society," he told the newspaper.

"We wanted to reflect this literary history in a very contemporary way, so are offering guests the use of cutting-edge Kindles pre-loaded with the Bible, instead of the more traditional hardcopy Gideon's Bible that they would expect to find in a hotel."

The hotel is also allowing guests to download a copy of any other religious text costing £5 or less.

It has adopted the policy on a trial basis. After 16 July, it will make a decision on whether to retain it in Newcastle and introduce it to more of the chain's 44 hotels around the world.

Gideons International has a long tradition of placing the Scriptures in hotel and motel rooms.