VISITOR attractions across Ryedale have reported a strong season with an increase in visitors to the area.

Extra activities have been held at many attractions during the school summer holidays encouraging local people as well as those from further afield to visit.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has seen ticket sales increase by 30%, for Friday to Monday compared to last year.

Market manager Danielle Ramsey, said: "I think we’ve had a season very similar to most over attractions in Yorkshire, great April, not so great May and then it recovered in June and July.

"We are 8% up on August 2013 and Whitby has seen a great boost since the new timetable was launched."

Hannah Cooke, communications manager at Castle Howard said annual pass memberships and advanced bookings were selling well.

"After a very strong start to the season, things have quietened down a little however we are still seeing strong visitor numbers and have had a good number of events which have attracted locals, including our new flower festival, the wartime event in May and our family friendly mini festival," she added.

"The typical bank holiday weather meant we had lower visitor numbers than anticipated on Monday but the good day on Sunday encouraged people to get out and about and we had high visitor numbers on this day. "

Beck Isle in Museum has continued to add to its displays with a World War One exhibition and the latest addition, a Victorian herb garden.

Trustee Mike Haigh said: "Our traditional herb garden has been developed from scratch from a lawned area with our garden volunteer Cheryl Crick and one or two other museum volunteers making paths, obtaining, laying out, planting and labelling herbs to make a very interesting display.

" We have been supported in the creation of the garden by the local Cooperative Membership Community Fund whose generous donation made this traditional garden possible. "

Mike said the museum had a busy July and August,

"Overall we can report a very good season," he added.

"Our sponsorship officer Bruce Pickup has also done a fantastic job building on our relationship with local businesses and encouraging them to sponsor some of our rooms and displays. We have forged some good links with the local community this year which has been excellent."

Jennifer Smith, director of Ryedale Folk Museum, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, said they had enjoyed a busy season.

"Our visitor numbers are up on last year and we have also had a number of return visitors especially to our special events and children's activities," she added.

"Business is up which is good news for all of us."