Staff at Leyburn Tourist Information Centre work tirelessly to promote the area - and also practise what they preach.

LAST week was the calm before the storm. Staff at Leyburn Tourist Information Centre had sent out 5,000 brochures promoting the attractions of the Yorkshire Dales.

A man staggered in under a large box of leaflets for his tourist attraction.

Someone wanted to know how to get from Leyburn to Leeds by public transport in time for an early morning meeting; another, the opening times of Richmond Castle.

A woman popped in to ask about last Friday's open day at Middleham. Someone looked at maps, another bought a book of walks round Reeth. Someone else booked tickets for Darlington Civic.

And a glum couple wandered in on the rather grey March day and asked plaintively: "Is there anywhere open?" There was - plenty, if you knew about it, which the TIC staff, of course, did.

In between all this - and sorting out the cupboards - Joy Healey, the senior assistant, had time for a chat. It was probably the last chance of peace and quiet until October.

The people in the region's Tourist Information Centres are treasures. Not only are they the fount of all knowledge and wisdom, many of them do it for nothing.

During the winter in Leyburn, it's pretty much Joy and two part-time staff. Once the visitors start coming, they are joined by two seasonal staff, a couple of casuals and an amazing 14 volunteers - who do the job for nothing but the love of it - and the whole team hardly has time to draw breath, let alone sit around drinking cups of tea.

"We couldn't do it without the volunteers," says Joy. " They have a real wealth of local knowledge and they love the area, which is why they are keen to help people enjoy it here. Staff and volunteers all work together. We're a good team and we also work closely with Tina Coates and colleagues in Richmond."

Visitors come from all over the world - particularly the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, Canada - and anywhere that's still showing All Creatures Great and Small on television.

"Not quite as big as it was, but still very important to the area," says Joy. The other local hero, of course, is Richard III. They get a lot of questions about him, then there are students doing dissertations on everything from tourism to traffic, questions about film and TV locations and at least once a day, someone asks why it's called Wensleydale when the river's the Ure.

They're there for the locals too, and wish locals would use them more for travel information, what's on events, booking services etc.

"But we do get asked questions for pub quizzes," says Joy. ("Where did Leyburn Cross used to be?" "Which pub has a man trap?"H)

Other questions are more practical - "Where can I take a two-year-old on a rainy afternoon?" "Where are the loos?" "Can you find me a bed for the night?"

"Where can my walking group/teenagers/disabled wife/vegetarian girlfriend go for something to eat?" "Where can I go for a walk with a push-chair/wheelchair/old dog that can't do stiles?" "Where can I get my car repaired and somewhere to stay while it's being done?" "What's the weather going to be like?"

Four years ago, of course, it was all a bit different when foot-and-mouth struck. "But there was still plenty to do and we wanted people to come and support the area. We got very good at planning walks on quiet roads rather than footpaths."

But every season's different and the job of the TIC changes each year.

"The three things that have made a big difference to us recently are the Food and Drink Festival in Leyburn, which has been a great success. We get lots of day visitors and then people planning a weekend around it. We've had enquiries for weeks about it.

"Then there's the Wensleydale Railway, which runs from Leeming Bar up to Redmire. We always know when the train's in. It's brought more visitors in. Some people just want to potter round the town but others are keen to get a walk in while they're here.

"We suggest taking the train up to Redmire and then walking back down to Leyburn for the train back, or vice versa," says Joy.

And there's the Forbidden Corner. Leyburn TIC is the only place - apart from the Forbidden Corner itself - where you can get tickets which are, because of the traffic problems, strictly rationed.

"Oh please tell people about that," says Joy. "We sell the tickets on a first come, first served basis. On busy days in the school holidays, we can run out by mid morning. We have people queuing for tickets at 9.30, before we've opened. Then others stroll up at 3pm and think they can get in that same afternoon - well unfortunately, they can't."

Then there's the Tulip Festival at Constable Burton, the Swaledale Festival and not forgetting Yorkshire Day on August 1, when the team generally throws itself into raising awareness and money for charity.

Once upon a time, the tourist season was strictly summer only. Now it spreads from early spring well into the autumn - when the TIC, like many others, sells charity Christmas cards - with the early and late season being particularly popular with middle-aged people who enjoy making the most of the stunning countryside but like their comfort too.

"That's the other big change over recent years. Standards have shot up. Bed and breakfast accommodation now is very different from what it was in the past."

Many visitors are here for their second, third, fourth or umpteenth time. "People come for a day, then come and stay for a weekend. Then they come back for a week."

Joy herself is a walker, so has that specialised knowledge to offer visitors, but when she's on a day off, she often finds herself visiting some of the attractions they promote.

"When you've read up on them, you naturally want to go and see them. Most of us do. If you love the area - and I do, I don't think I could live anywhere else now - you want to see more of it and know more about it.

"And then you know what you're talking about and can share that knowledge with all the people who come in here every day. That's the real bonus of a job like this."

* At the top of the Market Place, where the war memorial is, and at the side of the Black Swan - usually covered up with ivy.

* Leyburn Tourist Information Centre, Central Chambers, Market Place, Leyburn (01969) 623069.