THOSE struggling to 'spring forward' with the start of British Summer Time were offered a free place to nap by a top Oxfordshire hotel.

The Doubletree by Hilton Oxford Belfry in Milton Common, near Thame, opened up its rooms for exhausted travellers to catch up on their sleep after the clocks went forward.

Oxford Mail:

On Monday afternoon a limited number of hour-long nap slots between noon and 3pm were on offer.

The deal was open to anyone who wanted to revitalise with a quick snooze but guests were strictly limited to one person per room.

Sales manager Tom Cross said a mix of travellers and those local to Oxford had taken part in the siesta.

He said: "A lot of people thought it was an April Fool when we first announced it but once we reassured them that it was real, we had a lot of interest.

Oxford Mail:

"It's a company-wide initiative and was a way to claim back the hour everyone lost over the weekend.

"No one likes it when the clocks go forward and the first day back at work is tough.

"It gives people a chance to recharge."

Mr Cross said the initiative had been inspired by 'napping rooms' which have begun cropping up at major companies such as Google and Facebook.

But he admitted it probably wasn't the housekeeping staff's favourite promotion as they were having to go in and change the sheets after every customer.

Oxford Mail:

The clock change could be the last time Brits lose an hour in March with the European Union set to abolish the custom across its member states.

It remains to be seen whether the UK will follow suit after Brexit.

Oxford Belfry nappers were given a cookie and a glass of milk as part of their brief stay.

Mr Cross said he hoped it had given people an excuse to look around the hotel, which has recently undergone a £4.5million refurbishment.

But he said he probably wasn't going to find time for a nap himself because he had 'too much work to do.'

Friends Tina Thompson, from Princes Risborough, and Sarah Ludlow, from Sydenham, were not overly keen on the idea.

Oxford Mail:

The pair were celebrating Ms Ludlow's birthday in the hotel's bar before venturing into the on-site spa.

Ms Thompson admitted to feeling tired due to the time change but didn't feel a nap would do much good.

She said: "I think it would leave me feeling more lethargic to be honest.

"I don't mind a nap but I would feel a bit strange taking a hotel room for an hour.

"I often wake up feeling worse than I did before so I think I'll stick to the gin and tonics and make myself better that way."