FRIENDLY staff clearly made an impression on a mystery customer at a city's tourist information office.

The way staff responded at Durham Tourist Information Centre, in the Gala Theatre complex, Millennium Place has put them in line for an award.

They have been shortlisted in the Tourist Information Centre of the Year category, part of regional development agency One NorthEast's annual tourism awards.

Durham will compete against Sunderland and North Shields tourist information offices at an awards night at Sunderland's Stadium of Light on Wednesday.

The mystery customer tests the knowledge and friendliness of the centre, making contact with phone calls, e-mail queries and in a face-to-face inquiry.

City tourism manager Martin Boulton said: "We still don't know who it was or what they were asking about.

"But, we shall find out on the night of the presentation.

"It's the first time Durham has been selected and we're the only finalist from County Durham, so we hope to do not only the city, but the county proud."