Published on Friday, August 19, 2011

Hotel pays guests GBP1,600 after they were bitten in the night

A London hotel has paid two sisters £1,600 compensation after they were bitten by bed bugs in their room. The pay-out by the Airways Hotel in Pimlico could now open the flood gates to other claims by hotel guests suffering from bug bites.

Bed bug infestations are reportedly on the rise across the developed world and the number of patients treated in the UK alone for bug bites has risen 19% in the last year.

They are a particular problem for hotels as the bugs travel on clothing and in bags, so they can easily spread.

Melanie Carmen and Joy McDonagh were staying at the central London hotel when they were both bitten dozens of times as they slept. Both had to seek out-patient hospital treatment.

After seeking legal advice from solicitors Irwin Mitchell, the sisters reached an out-of-court settlement with the £90-a-night hotel this week.

They told BBC Radio 5 Live they would spend the £1,600 on a holiday.

By Linsey McNeill

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