BRITS planning a holiday to Cornwall this summer could face similar chaos as last year, which saw closed restaurants and huge crowds.

A shortage in staff across the hospitality industry has resulted in some owners being unable to open their restaurants, while others have been forced to convert their holiday lodges to staff lodges.

Ben Quinn, who has a number of restaurants across Cornwall, said he was unable to open his new restaurant in Perranporth due to staffing issues.

He told the BBC that the hospitality industry was "on its knees" due to the shortage.

He said some of his staff now include an A&E nurse and a trained teacher to fill the gaps.

It's not just a staff shortage causing the problem, but a lack of accommodation for people living in the nearby area, meaning they cannot work locally.

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Holiday park Mother Ivey's Bay in Padstow has been forced to turn three of its chalets into accommodation for staff who work there.

Owner Patrick Langmaid said the housing problems across Cornwall were "interlinked" with the staffing crisis which is affecting restaurants and hotels.

Visit Cornwall's Malcom Bell said that it was a "difficult challenge" due to the housing crisis, and is pushing for a registration scheme on holiday homes that would help "return more accommodation to the long rental market" after the busy season.

It is feared that the shortage could lead to another summer where visitors are faced with problems due to overtourism.

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Last summer, holidaymakers in Cornwall complained in their hoards after the seaside region was unable to cope with the record number of visitors while the travel bans were in place.

In August last year, a tourist said he was told a nearby pub was booked up for the next two months.

Another tourist slammed the beaches for having too much seaweed while one dad was quoted a whopping £71,000 for a week's holiday in St Ives.

And one woman said she left her holiday early after she said the restaurants were also closed and supermarkets were empty due to the boom.

Mr Bell warned anyone planning to visit the region may not have much choice unless they book sooner rather than later.

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He previously told Sun Online Travel that summer was looking "very good on bookings".

He added: "If you want to get what you want, book as early as possible. Lots of bookings were carried over from last year so start doing research now.

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