TRAVEL writers from around the country are on the final leg today of a visit to Wear Valley.

More than a dozen journalists and broadcasters have spent the past two days discovering what the area has to offer.

Since arriving on Sunday afternoon, they have seen attractions like Harperley PoW camp and Auckland Castle and saw the first World Cup trophy in West Auckland.

They have visited pubs and hotels for meals, including the Grand Hotel in Bishop Auckland yesterday, where they sampled the micro brewery and saw the model railway.

The writers will visit Killhope Lead Mining Museum before returning home today.

The event has been commissioned by Wear Valley District Council and co-ordinated by Corbridge-based Steve Reed Tourism Ltd.

Mr Reed said: "It is to put Weardale on the tourism radar. Money is being invested in promoting the North-East and we want to be very much part of what is happening."

The organisers hope the writers will report positively on their visit.

Dave McFadzean, who writes for titles including Countryman magazine and The People's Friend, said: "It's been really good. I'm thinking about doing a piece on the churches we have been to see. I think a few articles will come out of the World Cup in West Auckland. There's just not enough time to see everything."