'I drove 250 miles to resort's Travelodge then drove straight back home again'

ROOM WASN'T AVAILABLE AFTER HIS LONG JOURNEY

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism Editor [e-mail]

A SCOTTISH visitor who drove 250 miles to Llandudno made a shocking discovery when he arrived at his pre-booked hotel.

Stuart Sommerville, 62, travelled to the seaside resort to watch the town’s 80th anniversary Victory over Japan (VJ) parade on Saturday, August 16.

He was keen to be involved as relatives in Llandudno served in the conflict. The journalist previously visited the town in May for VE Day 80 when he discovered a 1945 photo of his mother on the promenade celebrating the war’s conclusion in Europe.

But his return visit turned into a nightmare. Stranded outside Llandudno’s Travelodge, having been refused a room, he was left trawling the streets for alternative accommodation late at night before admitting defeat and driving back to Scotland.

Stuart is now claiming £80 for wasted fuel after an agonising 12-hour roundtrip that left him with a ‘bitter taste in my mouth. He said: “I was hacked off. I couldn't believe Travelodge had just dumped me on the street.”

Travelodge said it had ‘apologised to Mr Sommerville for the inconvenience’ and offered him a full refund and alternative accommodation.

For his VE trip in May he’d stayed at the Gloddaeth Street hotel and all went well. For his return he booked a £91.99 room at the same hotel, setting off from his home town of Biggar after taking a half-day off work.

Having travelled the route many times, he aimed to arrive by 6pm on Friday - just as he did for the VE parade.