Guests staying at budget hotel chains have been greeted by mouldy mattresses, stained duvets and dirty toilets, according to an investigation released today.

Guests staying at budget hotel chains have been greeted by mouldy mattresses, stained duvets and dirty toilets, according to an investigation released today.

Ibis performed "particularly badly" according to the inspectors from Which? Holiday magazine.

Mould was growing on a mattress in its hotel on Charles Street, Manchester, while a duvet at the Portland Street Ibis, also in Manchester, had a stain which was suspected to be blood.

But it was not just the rooms which gave cause for concern.

The most unclean toilet in the report was found at the Ibis Euston, Cardington Street, London. There was urine and faeces around the edge of the toilet seat, and urine was streaked down the pedestal, the report said.

Travelodge was also criticised in the report, with three hotels in London and two in Manchester being visited by a researcher and microbiological technical consultant, both pretending to be guests.

The inspectors said the bathrooms were unclean, leading to concern about the bacteria found in four of the five rooms.

There were also high levels of dust under the bed in one room, while dirty hand prints and ground-in dirt were found on the walls, the report said.

Travelodge denied the bacteria, which included E-coli, was a risk for guests, and said it had never received a complaint about it.

A spokesman said a leading microbiologist had carried out an independent assessment of the Which? findings that showed the report's results would not present any health risk to customers.

He added: "We take room hygiene standards extremely seriously and have taken immediate action to remedy all of the issues raised by the Which? report."

Three Premier Inn hotels visited in Manchester were spotless, but two of the London branches, on Duke's Road and York Way, had "room for improvement", the report said.

Comfort Inn and Jurys Inn both performed well in the investigation, which took place within a one-mile radius of London's King's Cross Station and Manchester's Piccadilly Station in September.