COUPLES expecting to marry at a Darlington hotel have been forced to change their big day plans after it announced it is to close next month.

The Newbus Arms, at Neasham, which holds a licence to perform civil wedding ceremonies, is to close on Sunday, September 9.

The hotel says it will honour weddings booked up to October. Weddings and receptions after that date and those booked for next year have been cancelled and deposits refunded.

A Darlington man due to be married at the hotel, who did not wish to be named, said: "We were horrified when we found out. My fiance was in tears all day and we have had to rally around to find another venue on another date at great expense to us. It has been very distressing as some guests can't make the new date.

"The hotel said that they would still honour the wedding, but we were concerned they would bring in agency staff and the atmosphere would not be the same."

The Darlington Registrar was due to carry out four weddings after October at the Newbus Arms, a farmhouse mansion dating from 1610.

A council spokesman said: "Where we are involved we are doing everything we can to help people sort out their arrangements to make sure they will be able to enjoy a special day."

The hotel was sold by Kenny and Lynn Beagle to John Wain, of Piercebridge, for an undisclosed sum last December.

Mr Wain was unavailable for comment this week.