An independent travel firm has given makeovers totaling almost £200,000 to three of its Wirral stores.

Hays Travel has spent six weeks transforming their stores in Birkenhead, Prenton and Bebington, to bring them in line with the four other branches in the region.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Wirral, Councillor Geoffrey Watt and his wife Anne, were VIP guests at the Birkenhead branch, in Pyramids Shopping Centre, to see the £75,000 refurbishment recently completed there as part of the refurb programme.

Councillor Geoffrey Watt said: "Hays Travel in Birkenhead looks fantastic following its recent transformation. It’s clearly been a high quality refurbishment which looks modern and inviting. The Mayoress and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit and the team were extremely welcoming.

"It’s always encouraging to see reputable businesses such as Hays Travel investing in this way in the communities which they serve.

"I am very pleased to see for myself how much thought and effort has been put in to improving this store and heartened to hear that branches in Prenton and Bebington have also received a similar makeover.”

The refurbishment programme at the three stores was part of a £1m spend this year by the firm to improve those in its 32-branch portfolio which were in need of updating.

The renovations have seen each store being entirely stripped out and redecorated to include a fresh, high spec interior with new digital window displays and a special designated cruise lounge created in response to the growing demand for cruise holidays.

Lindsey Barber, Retail Sales Director for Hays Travel North West, which is the main partner of the UK-wide Hays Travel, said: “Refurbishments like these at our stores are important for a number of reasons.

“One of the driving forces for the business is to provide excellent customer service which is why we have so many loyal customers who come back to us again and again to book their holidays.

“It’s important to us that we provide them with modern, clean and welcoming stores, where they feel comfortable to come in and talk to us about booking their holiday."

At the end of last year Hays Travel North West launched a major expansion scheme with the creation of more than 50 jobs and a jump in turnover within 12 months from more than £50m to the predicted end of 2018 turnover of around £73m.

In the next 18 months, it is predicted that the number of Hays Travel North West stores will rise to 50.