A GROUP which campaigns to bring more visitors to Weardale has a new chairman.

Museum manager Ian Forbes has taken over the leadership of the Weardale Visitor Network from Carolyn Ramsbotham.

The network, which aims to boost tourism in the dale and help visitors get more out of their stay, increased its membership by 20 per cent with Mrs Ramsbotham as chairwoman.

One of its new initiatives is a Where to Eat in Weardale guide, which is due to be published in the near future. A visitor attraction guide has been distributed around the UK and translated into Dutch and German.

The network actively encouraged members to support a nationwide petition against Government plans to impose a bed tax on tourism businesses of all sizes.

And it has also urged traders to use a Durham Dales brand launched at Auckland Castle in March 2005.

Mrs Ramsbotham, who owns a holiday cottage business, said: "Weardale is a wonderful place to live and work and for tourists to visit.

"We have received tremendous support from many people and organisations which has made efforts to put Weardale on the map all the more successful."

Mr Forbes, who manages Killhope: The North of England Lead Mining Museum, said: "Those of us who live and work in Weardale know what a fantastic, friendly and welcoming place it is - and how sustainable tourism based on the great assets we have here can contribute to a vibrant economy."