British hotel apologizes to hurt soldier

LONDON, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Officials at a hotel in the British town of Woking say they are sorry for refusing service to a soldier who had been wounded while serving in Afghanistan.

A Metro Hotel spokesman said the ill-advised move to refuse to rent a room to 23-year-old Corporal Tomos Stringer was due to confusion on the part of a receptionist, The Daily Mail said Friday.

"Metro sincerely apologizes for any upset caused towards Corporal Stringer and his family," the unidentified hotel official said Thursday.

"The hotel management has always had an open door policy to all its visitors and guests, including members of the military and Armed Forces, and will continue to do so."

Stringer's mother criticized the hotel for its poor treatment for the Royal Logistic Corps soldier, who had been in Woking on June 22 to help organize a funeral for a fellow soldier. He was not in uniform at the time.

"Soldiers in America are treated like heroes and get applauded everywhere they go, but our boys are being treated like scum," she told the Mail.