ALTON-based travel company Travelbag will be packing up and moving out of some of their High Street offices, to set up a new home at Omega Park.

The Travelbag premises at numbers eight, ten, 12 and 14 in the High Street, are being sold off so that the company can put all of its administrative eggs into one basket, with the administrative department being centralised to the new premises.

A spokesman for Travelbag said: ÒAt present, Travelbag has eight different buildings in Alton, four of which are to be sold off and their operations relocated. The purpose of consolidating our offices is to reduce costs, maximise efficiency and to make the whole operation run smoother.

ÒThe move will take place early in the summer, probably around June, and will hopefully take the company forward with its plan of regional UK expansion.Ó

Prospective buyers of the old buildings may also be interested to know that one of the sites has profound historical significance. Number 10 was the location of the Alton Branch of the Austen, Gray and Vincent Bank between 1806 and 1812, the Austen being Jane AustenÕs brother Henry.

It is believed by local historians that Jane Austen and other members of her family had much to do with the premises, using the branch to withdraw funds and collect mail.

Although the building is not listed, it is believed that the historical aspect will arouse a great deal of interest in the properties.

The sale is being handled by local company Glanfield Holmund. Company Director Chris Glanfield said: ÒOne is always very pleased and honoured to be dealing with a building of such historical importance. The interest in Jane Austen is not just local, as her work is internationally renowned.

ÒI doubt that the historical aspect will have a bearing on the cost of the property, but it will certainly have a bearing on the level of interest. It is not just Number 10 that is of historical interest, all the buildings are of local importance with some dating back to the 1600s.

ÒWe are acting on behalf of Travelbag whose preference is to sell all of the buildings in one go. There may come a stage later on when they consider selling the buildings individually, but the current instruction is to treat the four buildings as one.Ó