A FRIENDLY face to show people around Lancashire's tourism website has been unveiled.

LOIS - (Lancashire's Online Information Service) is the cartoon creation of Lancashire Tourism and web designers New Mind.

County Council leader Hazel Harding said: "The lancashiretourism.com site has already proved really popular with more than 12,000 people having visited the site.

"LOIS has been designed to offer some friendly help in navigating the site and will be used to promote it both across the UK and further afield.

"Lancashire is a great place to visit and we are keen to encourage people to come here for a day, a weekend and longer stays."

Anthony Goldstone, chairman of the North West Tourism Board, said: "Tourism is a major industry for Lancashire.

"The web site is just one way we promote the attractions and accommodation we can offer.

"LOIS will help encourage even more people to find out what Lancashire has to offer via the world wide web."