BUSINESSES involved in the tourist trade are getting together next month to promote attractions on offer to visitors to the Wear Valley.

The first Wear Valley information day is being held at Crook Golf Club, Low Jobs Hill, on April 21, with 32 organisations taking part.

They are all featured in a Visit Wear Valley visitor guide which is being distributed around the country.

Mike Richardson, tourism officer at Wear Valley District Council, said the event offered a chance for businesses to make contact with each other.

He said: "This is an opportunity to help raise the tourism profile of Wear Valley, to not only those attending from outside the area, but also to give the chance to network between businesses within it."

The event will also offer details of 15 new walks and cycle routes in the district.

About 11,500 copies of Visit Wear Valley have been ordered. They are available from information centres, airports, railway stations and ports.

Businesses, individuals and organisations are welcome at the information day, from 11am to 2pm. Call (01388) 765555 for more details.

* Auckland Castle, in Bishop Auckland, is staging the district's first food festival on Saturday, April 10. Telephone (01388) 601627 for details.