A hotel has stepped in to save the day for hospital staff left disappointed and out of pocket by the cancellation of their Christmas party.

The Aztec Hotel & Spa has offered the employees of the Bristol Royal Infirmary half-price party tickets after the bash they had planned to attend was cancelled when the organisers vanished.

The 22 workers and their partners had all paid £20 deposits for a party called White Christmas, which was due to take place at Spike Island art gallery on December 11.

But the event was cancelled when staff at Spike Island were unable to contact the organisers of the party, Jamesons Events, for four months.

The BRI staff were also unable to contact Jamesons Events and became worried when they were not asked to pre-order their meals for the £45-a-ticket party.

When Aztec Hotel & Spa's front of house manager Michael Vincent heard about the staff's plight in yesterday's Evening Post, he immediately offered them help.

He said: "For a team which provides such a great service to our community it was very sad to read of such an injustice.

"Hopefully we'll be able to give them a night to remember."

Mr Vincent said he was able to offer the workers £30 off £55 tickets for a Las Vegas-themed party on December 11 with a three-course meal, disco, casino tables and hot dogs at midnight.

He added: "We might be able to throw in some wine and bits and pieces for them as well." One of the staff, clinic sister Penny Ashmead, 54, from Brislington, said: "It's great. We really didn't expect that."

Spike Island art gallery, which lost thousands of pounds through the cancellation of the party, has posted a notice on its website urging people who have paid deposits for White Christmas to contact the Citizens' Advice Bureau.

Jamesons Events were unavailable for comment.

● Have you had to cancel your Christmas party in similar circumstances? Contact the newsdesk at epnews@bepp.co.uk.