Work to build a new budget hotel in Workington is due to be completed next May, it has been revealed.

Developer Hinton Group started working on a 78-bedroom Travelodge, pub and drive-through Costa earlier this week.

The development is being built at The Green, opposite Allerdale House, and is expected to create 50 jobs.

Councillor Mark Jenkinson, deputy leader of Allerdale council and portfolio holder for economic growth, said it was important to have attracted a national operator to the town.

He said: “We have some really nice hotels and B&Bs, but this is about national operators looking past Keswick and Cockermouth and offering people coming to the Lakes somewhere different to stay.”

The development was championed by the previous Labour administration and Coun Jenkinson, who is the leader of the local Conservative group, had called in the application for it to be discussed by the council’s development panel.

He said: “I had concerns around the impact on local businesses. I opened the door to all businesses to make their case but it wasn’t taken up, so as far as I’m concerned now it’s gone through planning it’s something we should get on board with and make it happen as quickly as possible.”