A POPULAR wedding venue has closed without warning, leaving shocked brides and grooms in the lurch and out of pocket.

Hampshire Police were contacted after at least two couples realised their plans for a dream wedding reception at the Milton Barns Hotel, New Milton, lay in tatters.

The couple running the hotel have apparently fled to Canada without telling the owner or anyone who had booked the property for functions.

A note posted on the door of the hotel claims the couple been deported, but the Echo has been unable to contact them to confirm this.

Devastated Michael Erskine and Yvette Erdtsieck are due to marry at Highcliffe Castle in less than four weeks and have just discovered they now have no venue for the reception or accommodation for friends and family.

They have also paid out nearly £2,300, leaving them with little money to fund an alternative wedding venue.

The couple, who live in Sedgley Road, Winton, Bournemouth, had booked an afternoon three-course meal for 50 people, an evening buffet for 50 and nine rooms for family and friends.

Yvette's family live in Holland and were all hoping to stay at the New Milton venue following the wedding on October 15.

"We still had more than £1,000 to pay so I had been trying to get hold of them," said Michael.

"After 17 phone calls, three emails and a lot of voicemail messages I was getting worried so I decided to go there myself.

"When I got there the owner told me the people who had been renting it had vanished and he thinks they may have gone to Canada."

Michael, 40, and 29-year-old Yvette are now desperately looking for an alternative venue so they can enjoy their big day.

"We're trying to stay positive," said Michael.

"We're still getting married which is obviously the main thing but it's very stressful."

Yvette said: "We are looking for a reception venue, we have less than four weeks now. Normally you do this a year ahead - like we did - but now we have to redo everything "We don't have the money, we are having to borrow a lot.

"We heard there may be another couple taken in by this pair but we don't have any more details.

"Basically we are just looking for any help. "

Despite the matter initially being reported to Hampshire Police, it is now being treated as a civil matter.

A notice posted inside the front door of the hotel gives an email address and a series of contact numbers for the couple who were running the business.

However, when the Daily Echo tried the Canadian telephone numbers there was no answer.

Also, as the Echo went to press no-one had answered our emails.