Three American pensioners have mounted a defence of the former Stonington Hotel after a New York couple, who were regulars, last week vowed never to come again.

Elizabeth and Joseph Funk, of Staten Island, had enjoyed annual vacations at the South Shore hotel for the last 21 years but complained of non-responsive staff, part of the pool fenced off, the beach littered in seaweed, and afternoon tea and Sunday brunch cancelled.

But last week three seniors who have been coming for well over a decade came into offices to say they were backing the hotel which is now called Coco Reef.

The hotel has seen a lot of its staff leave ? through being fired or resigning after ownership changed.

Joan Kossler, from Chagrin Falls, Ohio said: "Yes, we miss the old staff but that isn't up to us. Now there are new owners.

"They are trying to step up the hotel and bring more tourism. They are trying so hard to accommodate people coming in. We don't think they (the Funks) are being fair at all. We have come for years."

Her friend Heather Kircher, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, said the new staff were very helpful. "They were wrong to judge without giving them time to sort out these things."

She also criticised the couple for being so quick to go to the newspaper and the tourism department.

And June Boyd, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, said: "These people said they were coming back to the Island but not Stonington. Well, will be back to this hotel."