Stunned Peter Barron was left with a huge bill after a couple used his credit card for a luxury break at a five-star hotel.

Mr Barron, 38, was taken aback when he received a letter from The Grand Hotel, in Eastbourne, inviting him back for another stay - and a bill for almost £400.

Mr Barron, who lives in a village near Darlington, said: "I've never even been to Eastbourne in my life but I have run up a huge hotel bill there with a woman I have never met.

"It would have been lovely to have stayed at such a luxury place myself but with four children I don't really get the chance." The fraudster, calling himself Peter Barron, had booked the two-night break by phoning the prestigious hotel, in King Edwards Parade, giving Visa card details on a mobile phone. He later confirmed the late booking by fax.

Hours later, the pair arrived for their stay in the £200-a-night room and were not asked to show their credit card.

That night, they splashed out about £170 on food and drink. The couple left a day earlier than expected.

Mr Barron, editor of The Northern Echo newspaper, was oblivious until a few days later, when The Grand Hotel sent him a letter asking him to foot the bill.

He eventually traced the fraud back to a business trip last month running a training course in Hastings.

During his visit to the Cinque Ports Hotel, in Bohemia Road, Mr Barron's jacket, containing his credit cards and mobile phone, went missing for half-an-hour when the group shifted conference rooms.

Mr Barron said: "I went to reception where a customer said they had seen a jacket lying in a corridor. I was so relieved because nothing was missing, but someone must have noted down my credit card details."

Phone calls soon revealed the scam, using Mr Barron's card and a fax confirming the booking from a drop-in copy shop in Hastings.

Yesterday, Jonathan Webley, general manager of The Grand Hotel, said security checks were always reviewed after an incident of fraud.

But Mr Barron said the system was not good enough: "If they had asked to see the card, this would probably not have happened."

A spokesman for the Co-op Bank, who will cover Mr Barron's debt, said: "As a rule most hotels ask for cards when the guests arrive."