TOURISM gems in the Durham Dales were on show at the weekend during a publicity drive aimed at attracting visitors in their coachloads.

Tour operators and travel organisers were surprised by the variety of attractions and scenic locations in Weardale, Teesdale and Wear Valley.

They were shown historical homes, such as Auckland Castle and Raby Castle and visitor attractions ranging from the Durham Dales Centre, in Stanhope, to Bowes Museum, near Barnard Castle, and Killhope, the North of England lead mining museum at Wearhead.

According to one of the organisers, Steve Reed, from Steve Reed Tourism, many of the weekend's participants had visited the North-East but never set foot in the dales area, where some of the region's best-kept secrets lie.

But before the weekend was over the operators, from as far afield as London, Glasgow and even Brussels, in Belgium, were placing bookings at local hotels and attractions.

He said: "It's gone very well. Some of them were actually stunned because most people on this excursion may have been to the North-East, but they haven't ever set foot in the Durham Dales."

A report will now be compiled for Durham County Council, which commissioned the event along with Teesdale Marketing, a consortium of hotels and attractions.

The document will spell out how much money is expected to be generated by the promotion and the impact it will have on the county's beleaguered tourist industry.

The foot-and-mouth epidemic cost the industry millions of pounds in lost revenue and many businesses are still struggling to get back on their feet.

Cabinet member of Durham County Council, Councillor Brian Walker, said: "We wanted to prove to these important tour planners that working together, the many tourism businesses in Teesdale and Weardale can offer something to visitors that is both unique and memorable."