DORSET’S Bath Travel has been sold to a Sunderland-based travel company.

Hundreds of staff at the travel firm, which has offices in Weymouth, Bridport and Dorchester, heard the news this morning.

Managing Director Stephen Bath said today that a deal has been struck with Hays Travel.

New boss John Hays will take control with immediate effect.

Mr Bath stressed that the name, branches and staff at Bath Travel will remain the same despite the change of ownership.

And he said customers should not notice much difference.

Bath Travel has 60 shops and employs around 360 people. Shops cover a wide area of the south of England including Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Devon and Somerset.

It's annual sales are in excess of £100million.

It was established in 1924 in Albert Road in Bournemouth, where its head office remains.

Hays Travel has 43 shops in counties including Durham, Northumberland, Cleveland, Tyne & Wear and Lancashire. It employs more than 800 people and was established in 1980.

Mr Bath said he is delighted the company has been sold to another family business and added: “We are very pleased because family businesses like us are best to be taken over by similar businesses which respect family values.

“Bath Travel will continue to operate in its name and its locations with hardly any changes.”

John Hays, managing director of Hays Travel, said: “I’d like to pay tribute to the Bath family.

"Throughout all of our discussions they’ve been really open, everything’s been really constructive and they’ve been really concerned that their business – which has been part of their family for over 50 years – goes to a good home.

"I’m really pleased that they feel that Hays Travel is a good home.

“I’m delighted that the Bath family saw Hays Travel as a company, and an organisation, where the values of Bath Travel would be continued. “The values of Bath Travel are of independent and knowledgeable, personal service. The Bath Travel brand is synonymous with quality and service, and we will retain the brand.

“This acquisition reinforces Hays Travel’s position as the UK’s largest independent travel agent and prepares the group well for the future.”

Muckle LLP acted as Hays Travel’s legal advisor for the acquisition.

Hays Travel is the UK’s largest independent travel agency with over 30 years experience in providing good value, quality holidays, alongside exceptional customer service.

The company pulls in an annual turnover of more than £500 million.