TOURISM firms are being urged to go green to benefit their business and the environment.

A national initiative was launched yesterday by the Countryside Agency and the English Tourism Council, to persuade businesses to be more environmentally-conscious and reap the rewards.

Green audit kits are being made available to tourism businesses in the region, which explain the benefits of adopting green policies.

Two tourist attractions in the region have been singled out by the Countryside Agency for their use of good environmental practice.

Nature's World, at the Botanic Centre, in Middlesborough, and Greenwell Farm, near Wolsingham, have been praised.

Nature's World aims to inspire visitors to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle, through features such as 25 acres of organic demonstration gardens, a reedbed system which naturally purifies water and the use and sale of peat-free and other environmentally-friendly composts.

Greenwell Farm has holiday cottages and bed-and-breakfast accommodation.

Linda and Mike Vickers serve beef and lamb from the farm's naturally-reared animals, run a nature reserve with two nature trails for visitors, and use energy-saving or recycled products where possible.

Susan Marshall, head of business support at Northumbria Tourist Board said: "Many of our overseas visitors have a high level of awareness of environmental matters.