HOLIDAYMAKERS from across the world are lapping up the delights of the Ribble Valley.

And jubilant staff at the tourist information centre in Clitheroe are celebrating after glorious weather left their telephones red hot.

They smashed their records on Monday when the number of inquiries they dealt with soared. More than 375 visitors passed through the shop and they received more than 90 phone calls.

Manager Mary Parker said it had been a bumper summer for tourism in the Ribble Valley.

She said: "People are beginning to realise what we have known all along, that the Ribble Valley is a beautiful area and well worth visiting. We are absolutely thrilled to bits. We have broken all our records."

Accommodation in the area is bursting at the seams with visitors from as far afield as Japan and Australia, and the area is particular favoured by the Dutch."

"They are just lapping it up. They tell us that they didn't realise the walking and scenery was so lovely."

The Ribble Valley found itself firmly on the map two years ago when Ordnance Survey announced that it was the centre of the United Kingdom and the Queen described it as her dream retirement location.

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