A POPULAR open air night show is being credited with giving tourism a real boost in the region.

Kynren - An Epic Tale of England will open in Bishop Auckland for its eagerly anticipated second season this Saturday.

The town has seen a major surge in property rental bookings throughout the course of the event which runs until Sunday, September 17 and County Durham sees biggest growth for holiday rental bookings in Northern England.

Following the unmitigated success of last year’s inaugural Kynren event, figures released yesterday by cottages.com have revealed that the spectacular Eleven Arches show is set to provide an even bigger boost to tourism across the county this year.

Figures released by the holiday agency show there is a 74 per cent increase in bookings during the show compared to last year.

With more than 100,000 tickets for Kynren sold in 2016 and high demand already expressed for the second season, it seems the action-packed show is proving a real draw for visitors to the area.

According to cottages.com, booking enquiries for properties across County Durham have seen a 54 per cent rise compared to last year’s figures, resulting in a 20 per cent uplift in weeks booked for property owners.

It represented the biggest growth area for holiday rentals in Northern England.

Annabelle Baker, area manager for cottages.com, said: “Kynren proved to be a hugely successful show last year and it’s clear that its popularity has had a positive impact on the region, helping to put Bishop Auckland firmly on the map.

“Thanks to the impressive reviews and reputation built last year, thousands of tickets have already been sold for this summer’s spectacle which already looks set to provide a major boost to local tourism.”

Annabel Tremaine, of Kynren, said: “We are delighted to see the positive effect that Kynren is having on the region and the local economy, and we hope it will continue as we enter an exciting second season.”