THE search is on for Durham’s fourth Tourism Superstar who goes that extra mile-and-a-half to ensure visitors have the best possible experience.

Entrants have been whittled down to a shortlist of three and voting has begun.

The three on the shortlist are Dorothy Carlyon, the Town and Pit Life Team Leader at Beamish Museum, Richard Darlington, tour guide and activity leader at Hall Hill Farm, near Lanchester, and Caitlin Potts, the museum and tours specialist at Durham Castle.

The winner will have a tough act to follow, as two of the county’s previous winners have gone on to win the overall VisitEngland national title and last year’s winner, Alan Anderson, a volunteer ranger at Auckland Castle, reached the national final.

Voting runs on the website until July 5 and the competition organisers, Visit County Durham, will announce the winner at their annual garden party at Crook Hall on July 13.