Ananova:

An Austrian hotel owner has banned children - but says pet dogs will always be welcome.

Hotel Cortisen turned away a German family with two young boys when they turned up for a holiday in the Alpine village of St Wolfgang.

Owner Roland Ballner, 38, said: "I have just had the hotel redecorated for more than two million euros - kids will put their dirty paw-prints on the white walls, stand on the white leather sofas in their dirty shoes, and scream and run around and disturb other guests.

"I have decided to make a stand and I am sure others will follow suit and say no to kids. From today, children are no longer welcome - and I plan to advertise it as I am sure it will attract guests."

But he added: "I don't have a problem with dogs... dogs are always welcome in my hotel."

He claimed his customers had welcomed the move to ban all children.

He said: "My guests have a right to quiet and relaxation without the noise of children. Parents seem to feel they are here to relax and wash their hands of their children's bad behaviour."

The Deputy Governor of Upper Austria, Franz Hiesl, said it was "outrageous" that families were being turned away.