A HOTEL boss claims he has lost thousands of pounds of business due to noise in Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens at night.

Matthew Winchcombe, assistant manager at the Lampeter Hotel, said there have been comments in internet reviews about groups of youngsters gathering and he has seen rubbish left strewn across the gardens in the mornings.

“There’s been larger groups gathering in the afternoons and staying until two or three o’clock in the morning, drinking, singing and playing football,” he said.

“They are not fighting or anything and it’s quite a nice atmosphere down there. But there’s up to 300 people sometimes, split into different groups, with guitars and stereos and when they move on they leave a sea of rubbish. It has put a couple of coach companies off, which is a big bit of business.”

Matthew believes most of the youngsters are foreign students and is hoping Dorset Police can get the groups to move on earlier in the evenings.

Councillor David Smith has arranged for litter to be collected in the gardens until 10pm and has approached the language schools, asking for them to send out staff at night to check on the groups.

“The students are fantastic and we welcome them here,” he said.

“The problem is this is 50 yards from the hotels.”

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “We are aware that there are an increased number of people out in the evenings due to the good weather and summer events occurring in the town.

“Extra patrols have been put on over the next few weekends in the town centre and the public are encouraged to report anti-social behaviour and any criminal activity.

“All reports are investigated robustly.”