Pontin's to close holiday centre

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Six other Pontin's camps will be staying open, and customers will be able to transfer their bookings

A Pontin's holiday centre at Hemsby on the Norfolk coast is to close, its owner Ocean Parcs has announced.

The centre will close in January after a review found it needed "significant investment" while facing "declining bookings and escalating costs".

The closure could see the loss of 55 jobs - 19 permanent and 36 on fixed term contracts.

A spokeswoman for Ocean Parcs said: "It is with regret that we have come to this decision."

She added: "The management and staff have worked hard over the years to provide great holidays at this centre. A consultation process with our colleagues has commenced.

"We will offer all holidaymakers who have already booked at Hemsby the opportunity to transfer their booking to one of our other centres or have a full refund."

She said the remaining six centres - at Pakefield (Suffolk), Southport (Lancashire), Blackpool (Lancashire), Prestatyn Sands (Wales) , Brean Sands (Somerset) and Camber Sands (Kent) - would remain open.

"We believe that the remaining six holiday centres do provide exciting opportunities to expand the Pontin's brand where bookings are up year on year," she said.