HOLIDAYMAKERS appear willing to come back to the Richmondshire countryside in the wake of foot-and-mouth disease.

Richmond tourist information centre saw double the number of accommodation bookings in January and February, compared to the same two months last year. In Leyburn, the increase was 76pc.

Enquiries for the 2002 Yorkshire dales holiday guide are also flooding in.

A report to Richmondshire district council's FMD working group said signs for the coming season were optimistic in spite of the devastation of last year. Businesses had taken a fresh look at their operations and re-assessed the opportunities open to them, said the report prepared by the district council's tourism, economic development and environment departments.

Events such as farmers' markets and the Wensleydale festival of food in May would help attract visitors and boost farm incomes and the Yorkshire dales joint promotions initiative was about to begin a survey to strengthen the Yorkshire dales brand.

The FMD outbreak saw a massive reduction in income for people working in tourism and the self-employed suffered particularly badly, said the report.

Worst hit were accommodation providers but the effect also extended to filling stations, cafes and visitor attractions.

Car parking income across the district was down by about £7,000, with all the council's car parks affected but Hawes and Arkengarthdale worst hit. However, while short stay parking in Richmond was down, long stay - more than four hours - increased by almost a third.