TOURISTS lured to the Lake District by the prospect of a sun-filled Easter break brought traffic chaos to the region's roads.

The RAC reported holiday-hunters 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.

Spokesman for Cumbria Constabulary, Mike Head, said: "The Easter weekend saw a significant amount of traffic. There was a large volume of traffic particularly on the northern end of the motorway where traffic was standing."

But with the traffic came the tourists who brought a bumper Easter for many of the area's attractions and hotels.

Partner at Coniston Launch Gordon Hall said it had been a "successful" weekend with lots of tourists messing about in the water.

"We have had some excellent weather, people have certainly been here and I hope they stay. It has been a solid, steady start to the season," he said.

"From our point of view the weather makes such a difference. People now know that foot-and-mouth has receded and are coming back to the Lake District."

Chairman of the commercial members committee of Cumbria Tourist Board and owner of Glenville Guesthouse, Windermere, John Tiscornia, said: "Tourism businesses 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 by the excellent weather."

General manager of the Low Wood Hotel, Windermere, Ean Scott, said the hotel had been fully booked for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. He said the long holiday and good weather had boosted tourist numbers.

Windermere Lakes Cruises also reported a record Easter week.

However, as the visitors came in their droves there were accidents on the fells.

Nick Verrall, leader of the Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team, said it had been a busy holiday period with the team called out seven times in six days in the run-up to the long weekend.

The team was called out three times on Friday alone, including an incident on Crinkle Crags, Great Langdale, when a 40-year-old Blackpool man had to be airlifted to Furness General Hospital, Barrow, after severely injuring his foot while scrambling.

April 23, 2003 10:00