Man arrested after Travelodge receptionist ‘stabbed to death during night shift’

A hotel receptionist was stabbed to death as she was working the night shift, eyewitnesses have said.

The victim was found lying in a pool of blood near the reception and bar area of a Travelodge in Bournemouth, Dorset, early yesterday morning.

A 32-year-old man from the resort town has been arrested on suspicion of murder and the woman’s family have been informed of her death.

Hotel guest Paul Ford says he saw blood smeared across the wall and a member of staff calling 999 as he went out for a cigarette at 7.30am.

He says the worker was pressing material onto the victim’s stomach to try and stop the bleeding.

Paul told the Sun: ‘I asked him if she was dead and he nodded, he was asking me to keep away, it looked like she had been stabbed in the stomach.

‘There was so much blood, over the walls and all over the floor.

‘One of my friends had been down for a cigarette at around 1 am and had spoken to her then. She was on her own, covering the reception.’

Detective Chief Inspector Jez Noyce, of Dorset Police, said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family of the woman at this extremely difficult time.

‘We are carrying out a full investigation into this matter and officers have been speaking with those guests who are staying at the hotel.

‘I would also like to thank guests at the hotel for their patience and understanding while we have been carrying out enquiries at the scene.’

A Travelodge spokesperson said: ‘We are deeply saddened to hear that a woman has died at Bournemouth Travelodge.

‘Our thoughts and sincerest sympathy are with her family and our priority right now is to support the Police with their investigation.

‘As this is a live police investigation we cannot make any further comment at this stage.’

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