Budget hotel chain Travelodge is to build 13 new hotels, including four in the London area, in a £62m scheme which will create 350 jobs, it has revealed.

The company, which has its head office in Thame, revealed the new establishments will add an extra 1,224 rooms to its existing 28,000 rooms.

The 13 hotels also include ones in Cambridge, Birmingham, Huddersfield and Aldershot in Hampshire.

Last November the company axed 15 staff from its head office at the same time as announcing the opening of seven new hotels at a cost of £22m.

Travelodge's development managing director, Paul Harvey, said: "During the recession we have taken the opportunity to grow where many have put their development on hold.

"In 2009 we secured more hotels than any other year in our history and have been able to attain superior sites due to lower property.”