PLANS to boost tourism in rural parts of East Lancashire without damaging the countryside are being drawn up.

And hoteliers, attraction bosses and festival organisers all being urged to have their say.

The Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership is drawing up a management plan, which is designed to ensure the countryside is preserved for future generations.

Fears have been expressed that the the growing popularity of rural Lancashire, including Ribble Valley, with tourists could result in damage to the natural environment, similar to the problems in the Yorkshire Dales.

On that side of the Pennines, huge numbers of visitors to popular fells have led to erosion caused by people walking and taking part in other activities.

Paths which were just one person wideare now up to three metres wide. Similar problems have been experienced in the Lake District.

County Coun Tim Ormrod, chairman of the Forest of Bowland AONB, said: "One clear message in our management plan is the need to support the area's rural revival by focusing on the tourism in a way which will benefit everyone, both in the short term and in the future.

"We will be holding public meetings to help form a sustainable tourism strategy and urge all festival organisers and attraction organisers, accommodation and food providers and diversifying farmers to come along and have their say."

In addition to the main plan, extra management plans will be drawn up for specific sites, including Gisburn Forest, Beacon Fell and Longridge Fell, so that their natural state is preserved.

Rosemary Budd, senior countryside officer for the government rural regeneration group the Countryside Agency, said: "The plan is crucial to provide both a vision and action for the AONB's long-term protection, while working with local people to ensure a thriving rural economy."

Development within the AONB is already severely restricted, making diversification into tourism tricky for many farmers.

Ribble Valley Council has given its backing to the plan, and Peter Carpenter, chairman of the Ribble Valley Tourism Association, said: "There is scope for tourism development in the Ribble Valley but our main asset is the countryside and we need preserve it. Tourism in the Ribble Valley has to respect the countryside"