Two of Maldon's guest houses have been granted permission to become residential properties after business slumped.

Cromwell Guest House, Cromwell Hill and The Star Guest House, Wantz Road, applied to change the use of their premises after struggling over the last few years and now plan to sell them off.

Maldon District Council approved the changes at a meeting last week.

Charles Day, owner of the Cromwell Guest House, has been losing money for the last three years due to a slump in business clients which make up the majority of his guests.

He also said Maldon only attracted day trippers rather than holiday makers due to the lack of things to do.

He now plans to live in the front of the 10-bedroom house and sell the back half.

At The Star Guest House, manageress Paulette Conroy said: "Years ago we used to get a lot of people coming in from ferry ports and from the continent but they just don't come any more in the numbers they used to."

The business has been on the market for two years but has not sold, so it was decided to split the three buildings to sell.

Russell Dawes, tourism development officer for the council, said: "We are sorry to see any accommodation establishment closing but certainly figures for tourist enquiries are up 25% in the year 1998-99."

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