THE man behind the takeover of one of Somerset’s most famous holiday resorts has said the move is almost as exciting as sex.

Holiday company Pontin’s, which has a resort in Brean, has been bought by the Britannia Hotel Group, saving hundreds of jobs in the process.

And the owner of the group, Alex Langsam, says that not only does the takeover mean the jobs of all of the staff at the resort will be saved, it could also mean more jobs at the famous holiday destination.

The 64-year-old company was placed in administration in November, owing �47.6million to around 1,000 creditors

But the sale of the chain, which had been handled by administrators KPMG in the interim period, has safeguarded all 850 of the company’s jobs nationwide.

Mr Langsam, whose group owns 36 hotels across the UK, said: “The object is to refurbish the resort, develop it more and bring it up to a very decent standard.

“We want to give it more excitement for children especially as that will obviously bring in the adults, we need to introduce a bit of razzmatazz.”

Mr Langsam said refurbishing the resorts cabins was a priority, as well as ensuring that all year-round entertainment keeps them full for as much of the year as possible, and creating more steady employment.

He continued: “Britannia brings 30 years of experience and a track record of success driven by a spirit of independence, enterprise and enthusiasm.

“A hallmark of this success has been our willingness to adopt neglected properties and make the necessary investment to restore them to their former glory. “We do it because we enjoy the challenge, because it matters and because we do it well.

“Pontin’s is an iconic name in Britain, and we’re very much looking forward to regenerating not only the resort, but also the area.

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity, the only thing I can think of that’s more exciting is sex.”

David Costley-Wood, restructuring partner at KPMG and joint administrator, said: “Concluding the sale of Pontin’s to Britannia as a going concern is a fantastic result.

“We are really pleased that Britannia, a leisure operator with a proven track record, has clinched the winning bid, ensuring Pontin’s lives on as a destination for holidaymakers. The deal will breathe new life into this cherished British brand.”