WINTRY weather on the earliest Easter for nearly a century has left many of the region's tourist venues counting the cost.

Visitor numbers were down at many attractions, with some reporting less than half the number of people through the doors compared to last year.

Hamsterley Forest, near Bishop high winds made it unsafe for visitors.

But Stewart Clark, from the castle, said numbers had been relatively high considering the weather.

"It hasn't been as bad as we thought it might be," he said.

One attraction to buck the trend was the restored Victorian mill at Tocketts Mill, outside Guisborough.

Peter Morgan, at the mill, said it had had a good weekend.

"We have had quite a few people here, but it has been snowing off and on," he said.

Hollincroft Bed and Breakfast, at Romalkirk, Teesdale, County Durham, also reported a good bank holiday.

Its rooms were pre-booked months ago, so it did not become a casualty of the weather.

Owner Tom Vlaming said: "We were full some time ago and still had to turn people away at the weekend." Tees Cottage Pumping Station, in Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, opened its doors to the public on Easter Sunday and yesterday.

Visitors were able to view its 1902 Lancashire Boilers, 1904 steam powered beam engine and 1914 gas-powered engine, all in operation and still pumping water from the River Tees.

Its next open days will take place on May 10 and 11.

Auckland, County Durham, had about 600 people in its visitor centre between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, down from more than 1,400 last year.

Christine Esteris, visitor centre manager, said: "The numbers were way down. Last year, the car parks were full. This year, it is much quieter.

"Those who did come out were rewarded. Families enjoyed our Easter trail and egg hunt. The children didn't care about the weather. They were so enthusiastic.

They had a fantastic time."

Visitor numbers were also down at Killhope, The North of England Lead Mining Museum in Upper Weardale, County Durham, but the attraction was far from empty.

Tina Raynor, from the museum, said: "I expected no one through the doors when I saw the weather forecast, but there was a steady stream on all four days.

"Not as many as we'd like, but more than expected."

Hardwick Hall Hotel, at Sedgefield, did have fewer guests than last year, but general manager John Milburn was pleasantly surprised with the final figures.

He said: "We served more than 250 Easter Sunday dinners, which was more than last year, so I wasn't disappointed."

Visitor numbers at Lightwater Valley, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, were down 50 per cent on the previous three years, according to manager Mark Bainbridge.

"Easter has been particularly challenging this year," he said.

"Everything has been operating as normal, and we are trying to keep optimistic and hope to make up some of the deficit over the next few weeks."

Scarborough Castle was forced to close early yesterday, when