Premier Inn guest gets £300 compensation after being bitten by bedbugs

A PREMIER Inn hotel guest that was bitten by bedbugs has won £300 in compensation.

Vicky Hills spotted red bite marks on her legs after her stay in August.

FG9EBC Premier Inn, Churchill Way, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
Vicky Hills has won £300 in compensation after being bitten by bedbugs while staying at a Premier Inn
Alamy

After the bites spread across her body, a GP prescribed her antibiotics and told Vicky to throw out her home bedding.

The hotel in Hastings, East Sussex, refunded her £78 for the stay, but later stumped up £312 for medication, new bed linen and bug traps.

Ms Hills, from Dunstable, Beds, told BBC’s Three Counties Radio her legs were “incredibly itchy and painful”.

The mum, who still has scarring from the bites, went on: “I had two lines up the front of my leg and then I started getting them on my shoulder and arms.”

Bedbugs spread by infesting clothing and luggage – meaning bite victims can help them travel to start outbreaks in new locations.

The critters quickly reproduce, with each female bug laying up to seven eggs per day after feeding and up to 250 in their 10-month lifespan.

Premier Inn said: “We have processes to react to and prevent issues.

“As soon as our team were aware of this complaint, the room was put on lockdown and independent experts immediately called in to resolve the issue using a specialist treatment.

“No further cases reported.”