A DALES attraction proved a popular location over the Easter holiday, a year after it closed at the height of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Hawes was hit by the outbreak last March, prompting the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority to announce the closure of the Dales Countryside Museum as a precaution.

However, the crowds have returned - and the past two weeks has proved busy for staff at the museum, which tells the story of life in the Yorkshire Dales, from the first settlers to present day.

"The Tracks in Time programme run across the national park seems to have been popular,'' said manager Fiona Rosher yesterday.

"We have definitely had a busy week, particularly with families.''

Workshops at the museum have also included opportunities for visitors to try their hand at making puppets or silk-screen painting - the latter demonstrated by artist Jill Clay, of Richmond.

Future projects include an exhibition called Way of Life, which will comprise work completed by children from schools at Arkengarthdale, Gunnerside and Reeth.

Run under the Swaledale Festival banner, the exhibition opens on Sunday, May 19.