HOTELS group Aston said last night it was renaming one of its hotels in the region.

The Sleep Inn Darlington, which the company owns and manages, will instead operate under the name Aston Hotel Darlington.

The hotel, near Newton Aycliffe, will be rebranded as part of Aston Hotel's marketing strategy and the company's plan to close the gap between top and budget hotels.

The Sleep Inn, also Aston Hotels' head office, is the first of a planned chain across the UK.

Paresh Kotecha, founder and chief executive, said: "We strongly believe there is a gap in the market between the traditional overpriced luxury accommodation and the more basic alternative."