TOURISM operators from across the country could bring coach loads of visitors to Wear Valley after seeing what the area has to offer.

The district played host to 25 national tour organisers and travel companies for a Dales, Rails and Jails event to promote the area's many tourism attractions.

Wear Valley District Council's tourism promotion and development officer, Mike Richardson said: "It was the perfect way to encourage businesses, big and small, to work closely together and to increase the visibilty of Wear Valley and surrounding areas to the wider UK traval trade, resulting in more touists coming into the area in future."

The VIP tourists stayed and dined at some of the area's finest hostelries including the Park Head Hotel, in New Coundon, the Manor House Hotel, in West Auckland, and Horsley Hall Hotel, in Weardale.

Their visits included Auckland Castle, Binchester Roman Fort, Locomotion: The National Railway Museum in Shildon, Bowes Museum and Raby Castle in Teesdale.

They heard about other attractions and the area's rich natural assets at a presentation and then completed their trip with a tour of Harperley PoW Camp, near Fir Tree.