COUNCIL bosses have drawn up a strategy aimed at ensuring Darlington attracts millions of pounds worth of tourists' cash.

A tourism review group was set up by the council and it found that, although tourism was booming locally, extra measures could be introduced to increase revenue.

The group's report says that:

l Tourism expenditure by both staying visitors and day-trippers is estimated to be worth £71.7m a year to Darlington.

* About 1.6m day trips and 131,000 longer trips are made to the town each year.

* 62 per cent of tourism expenditure is in the retail and catering sectors.

* Tourism spending supported the equivalent of 1,691 full-time jobs.

The report stated that if there was greater communication between the borough council and the private sector, more opportunities would arise and people might stay longer and spend more money.

The report states: "Tourism initiatives would benefit from continued and enhanced liaison and information exchange within all council departments and relevant interests in the private sector."

The report also says funding from regional development agency One NorthEast could be available for combined cultural and tourism initiatives.