Miss Potter still popular

Last updated 13:45, Tuesday, 02 September 2008

A LEADING Lake District attraction is having one of its best years as the Beatrix Potter effect continues to bring in the visitors.

The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction in Bowness has been surprised by another increase in visitors on top of last year’s figures.

When the film Miss Potter, starring Renee Zellweger, was launched last year it led to a 35 per cent increase in the number of people visiting the attraction, which brings the author’s stories to life. They had expected numbers to fall back to the level of a normal year this year. Instead there has been a further three per cent increase.

Officials believe that the Miss Potter effect has made an impact this year, along with its events programme and marketing activity in the UK and Japan. The Miss Potter DVD being a best seller and the film also being screened for the first time on the BBC in August this year continues to boost interest.

Japanese group visits to the attraction are also up by 22 per cent so far this year. The attraction, working with the Lake District Japan Forum, did a lot of work to ensure that the area benefited from the release of Miss Potter in Japan.