NORTHERN Leisure, The Northern Echo's comprehensive guide to the region, is bigger and better than ever this year.

The annual publication, available free with The Northern Echo on Tuesday, has been extended to include more places to go, attractions to see and events to attend.

The bumper 2001 edition includes 33 more places than last year and 333 more attractions, including many that have never been featured before, as well as lots of old favourites.

The glossy 176 page guide is crammed with ideas for great family days out in both town and country in the North of England and South of Scotland.

Cities featured for the first time this year include Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Chester, making more than 600 destinations in total.

The easy-to-read guide is divided into six regions and each place has a list of attractions, including galleries, museums, sports centres, cinemas and ideas for days out.

There is also a diary of events, an extensive guide to what's on in the region from now until the end of the year which promises something for everyone.

Although some events may be hit by the foot-and-mouth crisis, the region is certainly still open for business and tourists are expected to flock in large numbers to the many and varied attractions.

David Simpson, who has researched and edited the guide, said: "We have added some major places and lots of other town, villages and attractions for the first time.

"Many of them are in the North West, where previously we have concentrated on the Pennines and Blackpool.

"We have also included Edinburgh, which is only a short train journey away and has lots of attractions."

He added: "And despite the foot-and-mouth crisis, I still think that most of the attractions and events in there are going to be open."

Updated: 13.58 Tuesday, April 24