MAJOR tourist attractions have reported an increase in trade over Easter, despite the impact of Foot and Mouth disease.

Staffordshire County Council, which revealed the good news, is now hoping this can continue over the next few weeks.

Roger Bradshaw, County Tourism Officer, said: "Major attractions like Biddulph Grange, Alton Towers and Drayton Manor Park all reported an increase in trade over Easter which is very encouraging.

"The fine weather on Easter Monday played a part in this, but it is pleasing to see that people are not staying away in droves as some had predicted," he added.

"We are hoping the trend continues for the rest of the holidays.

"Our message is that if attractions are open it is safe to visit them without risking the spread of Foot and Mouth disease."

In Congleton and Alsager tourism seemed to have been hit over the Easter period as some of the area's biggest attractions remained closed due to the Foot and Mouth outbreak.

Little Morton Hall, outside Congleton, attracts almost 100,000 people a year but was shut over the Easter period as was Brereton Country Park and Alsager's Rode Hall Gardens.

Estate manager at Rode Hall Gardens, Richard Baker-Wilbraham said: "It is depressing, judging by the number of phone calls we have had there would have been quite a lot of people here.

"We may well have had over 100 people," he added.

However, the Cheshire canal system reported an upturn in trade with some late bookings.

Heritage Narrow Boats in Scholar Green suffered from numerous cancellations in March and April but business is improving.

Manager, Mike Dowse, said: "In general we have found that we are picking up in late bookings.

Mr Dowse added that the traffic on the canals was still not at its busiest: "Unfortunately there are still some historical sites on the canal which are closed," he explained.

BY PETE HENSHAW