TOURISM staff in Darlington are celebrating after an increase in business has seen them buck regional trends.

The latest figures released by Information Darlington, the town's tourist information centre, show that the number of inquiries made at the Horsemarket office have increased compared with the same period last year.

As well as providing information for holidays and short breaks in Darlington and the surrounding area, tourist information staff also make Civic Theatre and Arts Centre bookings, National Express bookings and reserve places on day tour excursions.

They also offer an accommodation booking service and can provide local travel information.

Tourism in Darlington is on the increase. Requests for accommodation in the town last year rose by more than 50 per cent on the previous year.

Tourism across the Northumbria region was generally down on the previous year, but with 105,000 visitors and callers to the town's Tourist Information Centre last year, Darlington saw a ten per cent increase.

Tourism in Darlington brings in £53m a year and supporting over 2,000 jobs.

David Lyonette, Darlington Borough Council's cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: "Darlington has carved a niche in the tourism market as an ideal destination for a short break. It is a wonderful place to visit and our tourist information centre offers an excellent service to visitors. There is a lot to see and do, and in town the shopping is good and there are first class hotels, bed and breakfasts and restaurants.

"We have also worked hard to preserve so much of the old Darlington, which is of great interest to visitors."