A tourism leader says businesses in a Lake District town are to focus efforts in 2017 on attracting more overseas tourists.

Hundreds of accommodation providers, food and drink specialists, retailers and businesses in Keswick are looking forward to the new year after ending 2016 on a high, the town’s tourism association is forecasting.

Twelve months ago the town had been devastated by Storm Desmond.

Keswick fought back and welcomed thousands of visitors to high-profile events such as the Tour of Britain in September and last summer’s mountain festival.

Keswick Tourism Association is made up of local businesses and attractions and boasts in the region of 350 members.

Vanessa Metcalfe, the association’s tourism manager, said: “The Tour of Britain was the biggest event we were part of in 2016 and the mountain festival, which brings in so many people every year.

“We’re really looking forward to what the new year will bring.

“We’re looking to widen our overseas promotions to places like the Netherlands, China and we’re seeing an increasing in interest from America.

“We really want to look at the emerging markets and tap into them.”

One of the key events in 2017 will be the reopening of the Cumberland Pencil Museum, Mrs Metcalfe said.

The attraction has previously been a major draw of visitors to the town and hopes are high that its relaunch after its floods recovery will have a huge impact.

“It has been a big miss but I know they are working really hard to get the place open in time for Easter and we’re working closely with them on that,” she said.

“Most places are back up and running now and we’ve had a really good season. The Christmas period has also been good recently so after a difficult start to 2016 it really picked up and there’s a confidence about this year too.”

Festive attractions in and around the town included a live advent calendar with different activities each day.

Plans for the next 12 months come as literary fans prepare to snap up tickets for the town’s forthcoming and ever-popular Words by the Water festival. Tickets went on general sale for March’s 10-day festival yesterday.

High-profile names include political heavyweights Harriet Harman, David Owen, Alan Johnson, Vince Cable and Roy Hattersley, broadcasters John Simpson, Chris Tarrant and Peter Snow, comedian Mark Watson and author Wendy Holden.

Click here to see Cumbria's calendar of active events in 2017