Record-breaking month for Yorkshire tourism
Yorkshire's tourism industry has enjoyed a record-breaking April, with figures suggesting more people than ever visited the region's attractions.
National Trust statistics show Nostell Priory near Wakefield hosted almost a quarter more visitors in April 2011 than in the same month last year.
Meanwhile, tourist organisation Welcome to Yorkshire said visitors to the region were already well up on 2010.
Good weather and bank holiday weekends were thought to be the main factors.
Visitors to Nostell Priory increased from 19,224 in April 2010 to 23,743 in April 2011, a rise of 24%.
The National Trust said if that trend continued, the house - one of the trust's three largest sites in Yorkshire - was likely to enjoy its best year on record.
Kevin Dessoy, property manager at Nostell, said April had been "a brilliant month".
"We are delighted to have support from so many visitors, whether they come regularly to Nostell or it is their first time," he said.
Visitor numbers at Beningbrough Hall and Fountains Abbey, both in North Yorkshire, were also said to be sharply up on April 2010.
Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said indications suggested "a double digit increase" in the number of tourists to Yorkshire compared with the same period in the previous year.
Mr Verity said the region's success was down to a combination of factors.
"The bank holidays, great weather and all the hard work from tourism providers have meant Yorkshire tourism has enjoyed a record fortnight," he said.