BEING overcharged by a hotel would result in most people vowing never to return there.

But it did not prevent Vic and Rita Hindmarch from returning to the place where they were on honeymoon 50 years ago.

The couple, who used to live in Darlington before retiring to Wales, had no idea that they had been overcharged when they stayed in the Derwent Hotel, Torquay, in 1951.

But bosses at the hotel did - and they sent the couple a letter of apology, with the extra half guinea (53p) which they had been mistakenly charged.

Vic and Rita were so touched by the hotel's honesty that they vowed to return one day.

When their 50th wedding anniversary approached, they decided it would be the perfect place to celebrate the occasion.

When they arrived, they amazed hotel reception staff by showing them the original letter which said they had been overcharged.

Vic said: "In those days my wages were only £6.62, so we had to save quite hard to find the extra cash for the honeymoon.

"But it was a lovely surprise when we had the 53p returned to us."

The 28-bedroomed hotel the couple stayed in in 1951 has since been transformed into a 178-bedroomed hotel, known as the TLH Leisure Resort.

Rita said: "The hotel asked if we wanted the same room but, to be honest, we couldn't remember the number. After all, it was our honeymoon."

The couple will be celebrating their special anniversary again later this year, when they have a family party with their daughter, Janice and son-in-law, Keith and their two grandchildren, Clare, 16, and 18-year-old Chris.