USERS of a Windermere hotel that was designed for blind and visually impaired people are concerned they may lose their holiday spot.

Action for Blind People, who run Windermere Manor, as well as hotels in Lauriston and Cliffden, have announced it will cease running the establishments.

Rose Hewitt, who is the chairperson of the Circle of Guide Dog Owners and has visited the Windermere branch on several occasions, said that many users of the three hotels were 'very disturbed' at the prospect of them closing.

"There is not anywhere else for blind people to have a safe holiday," Rose, who is 75 and lives in Torbay, said. "Everybody goes on about lonely people in their homes and this is our one opportunity to go on holiday."

Windermere Manor offers blind and visually impaired people ground floor bedrooms, easy to read signs, hotel information in braille, and wheelchair accessibility, as well as guided excursions.

Rose, who is blind, is concerned that under new management, the hotel will no longer cater for those who are blind or have visual impairments.

"For me, it would mean no holidays," Rose said. "Myself and another totally blind friend - we go away to these hotels together. We feel quite safe doing it."

Claire Park, director for Sight Advice South Lakes, said she was aware that some of the charity's users had used the hotel for residential breaks as well as for its swimming facilities.

Action for Blind People has said in a statement that it is doing 'everything' it can to ensure the hotels stay open under new management.

"We would like to reassure any customers who have a reservation in 2016 that your booking is not affected - we will continue to offer a full service and our usual range of facilities," the statement said. "We will be contacting any customers who have a reservation in 2017 over the next week to discuss their booking."

The charity said that it had to make sure that every penny spent was in the 'best interests' of blind and partially sighted people and that all three hotels required a significant subsidy to continue operating.

The statement also said Action for Blind People was doing everything it could to ensure the hotels stay open under new management and would be able to provide a further update by the end of October.