TOURISM professionals working in some of the region’s most beautiful spots are to get extra training in how to make visitors feel welcome.

The Northern Lands Partnership is to train staff in welcoming visitors and explaining what is on offer and make them ‘Protected Landscape ambassadors’.

The Partnership covers the Durham Heritage Coast, the North Pennines and Northumberland Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and Northumberland National Park.

The training, called Sense of Place, will start in September and could lead to nationally recognised qualifications. The programme will run over three days. For more information, call Michelle Gorman on 03000-261-221.