VISITORS to the North York Moors are being encouraged to think pink as part of a campaign to draw more people into the area.

Sheep dressed in pink jumpers to reflect the area’s heather moorland will be placed around the park for people to spot.

Visitors will have to find a minimum of three lost sheep to be entered in to a prize draw, which is similar to a successful campaign run in the Yorkshire Dales last year. Lost Sheep in Pink Jerseys will run from June 20 to September 20.

Catriona McLees, head of promotion and tourism at the North York Moors National Park Authority, is encouraging local businesses and residents to get behind the idea to help make it a success. “The campaign has the potential to really put the North York Moors on the map this summer, but to be a success, we need the support of local people and businesses,” she said.

“People taking part last year in the Yorkshire Dales said the campaign was a fun way to explore new places, to discover different shops, pubs, cafés and provided an incentive to return again and again to find more sheep.”

People or organisations who want to display a sheep are asked to sign up by May 5 and their sheep can be any size and made out of any material as long as they are wearing their pink jumper. Prizes are also needed, ranging from accommodation, crafts, meals or experiences, and businesses can also sponsor the campaign. Stylish Stays and Dalby Forest Lodges are already two of the sponsors for the Lost Sheep in Pink Jerseys campaign.

For more information visit www.northyorkmoorstourism.com or phone 01439 772700.