Two resorts on the south coast are to join the euro zone and cash in on British and foreign visitors this summer.

Tourism bosses believe that Brits who usually travel abroad will have Euro’s from previous holidays that they won’t use this year.

Rather than the money going to waste they could spend it in restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions in Bournemouth and Poole.

This will benefit foreign travellers attracted to Britain due to the poor state of the pound against to the euro.

The resorts will become the second location in Britain to accept the euro after Dunster in Somerset became the first to take the euro earlier this year.

Hotels and restaurants in Dorset’s neighbouring resorts have signed up to the euro scheme to give visitors the opportunity of paying in euros.

Mark Cribbs Bournemouth restaurant owner said “With so many UK holiday makers likely to shun euro zone countries this summer, there will be an awful lot of unwanted euro’s sitting around in peoples pockets and socks drawers. If accepting continental currency adds to our unbeatable holiday value we are all for it”.

Cherrie Bythell who runs the Mount Lodge guesthouse in Bournemouth said “We are hoping that with it being better value for the euro against the pound then more people will come here from abroad. The fact they will not need to change their currency is an added bonus”.

Graham Richardson of Poole councils tourism department said “It is a small start and we are confident we can sign up lots more hotels and restaurants”.