AUTHOR Lewis Carroll's strong links with the North will be highlighted when tourist chiefs from across the country make a visit to the area this weekend.

Ripon, in North Yorkshire, one of the country's smallest cities, will unveil its Ripon in Wonderland tours initiative to attract more tourists.

The tour operators will be shown around some of the area's main attractions.

The project has been commissioned by Ripon Cathedral and Ripon City Partnership, a group charged with regenerating the city.

The programme has been put together with support from local businesses.

One of the events will be a Mad Hatter's tea party at the March Hare restaurant and gallery.

It will underline Ripon's links with Carroll, the son of a Ripon Cathedral canon.

Lewis Carroll, whose real name was Charles Dodgson, often visited Ripon, and the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland was said to have been sparked by a picture of a young girl hanging in Sharow Vicarage, a mile from the cathedral.

Choir stall carvings in the cathedral are said to have been the inspiration for the White Rabbit and other characters.

The recently opened Thorpe Prebend House, in the shadows of the cathedral, is also included in the tours.

Ripon City manager Jonathan Beer said the bosses will also visit the revamped Police and Prison Museum.

He said: "In addition, it also gives us the opportunity to promote the 400th charter anniversary of Ripon.

"Our aim is to develop pre-planned destination visits to Ripon by tour operators who will stay overnight and establish Ripon as the cathedral gateway to the Dales."