FEARS surrounding foreign travel and warmer weather lured holiday-hunters to the Lake District for the long Easter break.

According to many, the conflict in Iraq and the spread of the SARS virus saw some nervous travellers choosing to stay at home.

Public relations manager for Cumbria Tourist Board Paul Gardner said: "The international situation, combined with the prolonged period of exceptional weather we have had here, means lots of people are looking at taking breaks in Cumbria.

"We have had a strong start to the year and it's looking very positive for the coming season."

Windermere hotelier and chairman of the commercial members committee of Cumbria Tourist Board John Tiscornia agreed: "Tourism business in Cumbria had a very good Easter weekend. Some people are saying that they could have let out rooms six or seven times over.

We seem to have been helped by the continuing uncertainty regarding foreign travel and also by the excellent weather."

Last-minute visitors found it was a case of no room at the inn' as some of the region's attractions and accommodation owners reported being full to capacity over the long-weekend.

Many Lake District youth hostels were fully booked while campsites including Low Wray, Ambleside, and Coniston Hall were all fully pitched.

At the Lake District Visitor Centre, Brockhole, Easter crowds turned out in force to enjoy the weekend of events. High-flying star attraction Paddy the border collie, who was winched into a helicopter in a demonstration by the Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team, proved popular.

Partner at Coniston Launch Gordon Hall said it had been a "successful" weekend with lots of tourists messing about on the water. "We have had some excellent weather, people have certainly been here and I hope they stay. People now know foot-and-mouth has receded and are coming back to the Lake District," he said.

Windermere Lake Cruises also reported a record Easter week.

But with the volume of visitors came traffic chaos to the region's roads. Rob Lawler, from Cumbria County Council contractors CIC, said the sheer weight of traffic appeared to have caused congestion over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend and into Tuesday.

The RAC reported holidaymakers heading for the Lakes had endured one of the country's worst traffic standstills on Friday as they were trapped in 16-mile tailbacks on the M6 between Preston and Lancaster.

On the fells, Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team was called out three times on Friday, including an incident on Crinkle Crags, Great Langdale, when a 40-year-old Blackpool man had to be airlifted to Furness General Hospital following a scrambling accident.

April 24, 2003 12:00