Unite the union is calling for a meeting with the owner of the Portaferry Hotel which shut down suddenly with the loss of 20 jobs.

Unite Regional Officer, Davy Edmont, said it is a "brutal blow" for a small, rural community and wants to meet with the owner Bill Wolsey to discuss what plans he has for the long term.

Local Portaferry resident and Unite community activist, Greg Sachno, said: "Hotel staff members have lost their jobs, effectively without statutory notice, and have for all intents and purposes been locked out. The closure also will impact local suppliers and businesses provide goods and services to the hotel.

"My understanding is that customers having long-term bookings, including for one local wedding, have been told that it will now have to find an alternative venue. Unite is calling a show of solidarity with everybody affected and will be organising a public demonstration outside the Portaferry Hotel this Thursday, 22 October, at 12pm.

"To throw people on the dole, many of whom have young families, a few months before Christmas is Dickensian and shameful. I am calling for all stakeholders to draw up a plan including a community-based strategy to save the hotel and get the staff back to work as soon as possible."

Alliance Strangford Councillor Kellie Armstrong said: "Along with everyone else in the area, I'm extremely shocked to hear that the current lease holders have left The Portaferry Hotel.

"It is also distressing to hear about the amount of people who have been left without answers. From the hard working staff and customers, who were given no warning or notice of the immediate closure, to the wedding party booked for this Friday who have been left devastated.

"I sincerely hope that the landlord is able to either taken over operation of the hotel themselves or find a new tenant as soon as possible."

(CD)