THE county's tourism industry has enjoyed a booming start to the new season thanks to the Royal Wedding, a national television programme and some glorious weather.

Attractions across North Yorkshire have reported an increase in visitor numbers with holidaymakers and day trippers taking advantage of the spring sunshine and extra bank holiday.

After one of the best Easters on record, businesses felt the added benefit of workers taking the three days off before the Royal Wedding to make up an 11-day uninterrupted break.

Newby Hall and Gardens in Ripon was one of many attractions reporting an increase through the gates - up 87 per cent over the Easter weekend compared to last year.

Around 20,000 people visited Harewood House on the May Bank Holiday Monday, while Harlow Carr in Harrogate reported its best ever April.

Nunnington Hall, in Ryedale, was one of a number of attraction which took advantage of the Royal Wedding celebration, with the venue erecting a giant screen and holding a garden party.

Operations manager Simon Lee Property said they had seen "exceptional numbers" over the week, including more than 1,000 who attended just for the wedding party.

Gary Verity, chief executive of tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire said: "The combination of Easter, the Royal Wedding and May Bank Holiday, topped off with terrific weather have proved to be fantastic for tourism in Yorkshire.

"Early indications show that tourism businesses across the county boomed over the weekends.

"This has to be one of the best fortnights for Yorkshire tourism in recent history."

Attractions in the Yorkshire Dales have enjoyed the added bonus of the new The Dales documentary.

The 12-part series has pulled in an average audience of four million since the first programme was aired on prime-time ITV at the end of March.

One of the attractions which is already seeing the benefit is Bolton Castle, near Leyburn, which had its new wild boar enclosure featured.

General manager Katie Boggis said visitor numbers for April were up almost 50 per cent on 2010, which was also a good year.

She said: "Last year was good but this year has been amazing.

"Weve had a lot of people who have come after seeing the show saying they didnt know we were here or had passed before but never called in."

Visitors are already seeking out some of the stars of the documentary including Amanda and Clive Owen and their five children at their Swaledale farm.

Margaret and Jackie Stubbs at their community-owned pub, the George & Dragon in Hudswell, near Richmond, have seen a boost in visitors because of the show.

Ms Stubbs said: "Its been a brilliant April which has been helped by The Dales.

"Its helped us, as it will all the pubs across the Yorkshire Dales."