A COUPLE have had their hotel booking cancelled due to fears over the Indian variant of coronavirus currently present in Bolton.

Paul Rosimus, 60, and wife Ursula, 57, from Lostock, had planned to visit the Aqua Hotel on the Isle of Wight on June 12 for a four-night stay.

However, the day after booking the hotel last week, Paul had the reservation cancelled - and he says hotel bosses explained it was due to the situation in Bolton.

He said: “This is my first experience with anything like this and what I want to do is highlight that Bolton people are being treated like lepers. When is it going to end? Are we not going to be able to use anything or go anywhere if we are from Bolton?

“Bolton people are starting to be alienated because of the virus. We have had both vaccines. Truly that should allow us to live a normal life. I booked it on Thursday and it was an automated system that confirmed it.”

Paul noticed that at the bottom of the booking, an offer stated that if you called the hotel, they could arrange for a cheaper ferry across. When he rang the hotel however, he was told the booking would be cancelled due to him being from Bolton.

He said: “She asked me to confirm my address and I thought it was just a security question. Then I told her and she said she was cancelling and it was as blunt as that.”

A spokeswoman for the hotel confirmed to The Bolton News that Paul’s booking had been cancelled, but insisted it was to protect staff and other customers.

The Indian variant of the coronavirus has led to an increase in cases in Bolton, with the town topping the country’s infection rate list in recent days.

She said: “In the news that we see here, the virus is rampant (in Bolton). There are staff under 30 here and who haven’t been vaccinated. It is a worry. The rooms do have to be serviced by staff and the protection of them and other guests is important.

“I feel very sorry for him but it wouldn’t be a problem later in the year. I was very apologetic when I spoke to him and didn’t dismiss it out of hand. He wasn’t singled out and it is very difficult.”

The spokeswoman added that under previous tier systems, travel was banned for high-risk areas. Paul said that he “understood the thinking” for the cancellation - but still wanted to highlight what people from Bolton can face.