AN OCTOGENARIAN volunteer has been declared a county’s Tourism Superstar.

Lilian Groves, who has volunteered at Durham Cathedral for 25 years and is now a senior guide, was crowned Visit County Durham’s Tourism Superstar 2015 during the tourist agency’s annual garden party tonight (Thursday, July 23).

The 86-year-old, of Claypath, Durham, topped a public poll run online at thenorthernecho.co.uk, which attracted more than 2,500 votes.

In her quarter of a century at the cathedral, Miss Groves has welcomed stars including Princess Anne, PD James and Sting.

She said: “I’m more than delighted to tell people what a wonderful, wonderful place Durham is.

“I’m passionate about the cathedral. I think it’s the most wonderful place you could be.”

But on winning the prize, she said she was "embarrassed".

Miss Groves will now go forward as Durham’s nomination for Visit England’s National Tourism Superstar contest.

She follows Matthew Henderson, of Witton-le-Wear, Bishop Auckland, who won the inaugural Durham prize last year while a teenage apprentice at Beamish Museum and went on to also clinch the national title.

Miss Groves was nominated by her colleagues at the cathedral because of enthusiasm, dedication and knowledge. Her tours have been praised by visitors from around the world and some have booked her years in advance.

She beat off competition from fellow octogenarian Jim Cole, a volunteer guide at Auckland Castle for 30 years; Esther Ashby, a founder member of the Durham Pointers tourist information volunteers group; Carl Thompson, the managing director of Lickety Split Creamery in Seaham; and Tom Wood, a catering apprentice at Eggleston Hall Cafe and Tearoom.

Ivor Stolliday, chairman of Visit County Durham, said: “The quality of nominations was very high and all the finalists are wonderful ambassadors for the county and deserve our congratulations.

“The public really got behind the competition and the total vote was more than double that polled last year. The people on the front line of the visitor experience here in Durham help make it such a superb destination and it is wonderful to be able to celebrate them.”

James Berresford, chief executive of Visit England, congratulated Miss Groves and said: “Visit England’s Tourism Superstar initiative is designed to reward those people who work on the front line of tourism, who make a real difference to the visitor experience and who deliver outstanding customer service and we look forward to receiving Durham’s nomination later this year.”