CUMBRIAN tourist attractions saw a 3.4 per cent increase in visitors during 2017, new figures reveal.

Each year, Cumbria Tourism runs a visitor volume survey among attractions across the county.

The data collected is vital to give the county an indication of how businesses are performing across the region.

Information was received from more than 70 visitor attractions which welcomed in excess of six million visitors.

These figures build on a 7.2 per cent increase in 2015-2016, and a 3.3 per cent rise between 2014-2015.

Gill Haigh, managing director of Cumbria Tourism, said businesses were extremely optimistic for the year ahead.

Cumbria Tourism and partners also recently hosted a visit to the county by the new Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism, Michael Ellis MP, which coincided with his announcement of £3.3m from the Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund to enhance visitor experience at cultural attractions.