EASTER is upon us. The sun is shining, daffodils are blooming and our market towns, villages and countryside are open for business.

Offices, schools and universities have closed and families have a Bank Holiday to enjoy.

What better way to do that than to rediscover all the good things this region has to offer.

Whether you fancy walking on the hills, visiting a country house, lunch in a village pub or caf, or a night out in a restaurant, there are countless attractions and businesses to be enjoyably supported.

No longer do we have to restrict our leisure activities to indoor shopping malls, city centre precincts and multiplex cinemas.

The Dales, Moors, Coast and Vales are all accessible.

For over a year, the countryside and rural economy has suffered greatly. Tourism is one of the industries that has been badly hit, as has been well documented by this newspaper.

This Easter is the time to do your bit.

The Darlington and Stockton Times' Great North Country Fare campaign is highlighting all that is best in regional food and drink.

Our previous campaign repeatedly championed our market towns and highlighted the vital role of small businesses.

So, let's practice what we preach. No doubt, our readers need little encouragement to enjoy what is around them. But its worth stressing again - go out, eat, drink and be merry.