TWO HAMPSHIRE Travelodges are closing a week after the company said it wants to build 10 new hotels in the county.

The budget hotels at the north and southbound Sutton Scotney services on the A34 will close tomorrow.

As reported last August, the hotels were two of 49 Travelodge was looking to sell to reduce debts of £700m.

A spokesman for Travelodge said: “We regret having to shut hotels but it follows a strategic review last August where this site was identified as one we could no longer operate.

“We are continuing to look for sites in Hampshire because it is a very successful region for us and we are looking for sites around town centres where there is higher footfall and more demand for occupancy.”

The spokesman confirmed three staff had been made redundant while four more resigned. The remaining three staff are being transferred to other hotels.

Last week the company said it wanted to build new hotels in Winchester, Basingstoke, Andover and Lymington among others and create 150 jobs in the county.