A COACH party from Switzerland is to visit Teesdale next month.

The visit comes as part of the Discover Teesdale Travel Trade Project, which was set up to encourage tour operators to include the area in holiday itineraries.

Dorset-based tour operator Brookland Travel came to Teesdale on a familiarisation visit and plans to include either Raby Castle or High Force in its itinerary for the Swiss visit next month.

Catherine Turnbull, the marketing supervisor at Raby Castle and lead director of Discover Teesdale, said: "I'm really pleased at the response. It usually takes a lot longer to get a result - sometimes up to three or four years. But this was a very speedy result.

"The tours will be a short break-type with ten or more people staying overnight in Teesdale, which hopefully means they'll be spending more money in Teesdale."

Discover Teesdale, which is a branch of Teesdale Marketing, is also working to encourage more coach drivers to stop off at Barnard Castle by reimbursing the parking fee for the town centre coach park.

Drivers who stop at the car park, which is owned by Teesdale District Council, can have the fee reimbursed by going to the tourist information centre.

Miss Turnbull added: "A lot of coach drivers expect free parking and free refreshment so this is something we've managed to budget for. They'll also be given a welcome pack. Coach drivers are a tight-knit group and word gets around."