REPRESENTATIVES of Ribble Valley tourism industry turned out in force to say farewell and thank you to the woman who has helped put the area firmly on the international map.

For nearly 14 years, tourist information officer Mary Parker has been the 'face' of the Ribble Valley, greeting visitors to Clitheroe Tourist Information Centre and launching some of the area's biggest tourism campaigns, including Dunsop Bridge as the 'Heart of the Kingdom' in 1992.

But the tables were turned when Mary was visited by local residents, friends, council staff past and present, and many bed and breakfast and self-catering cottage owners, who wanted to thank her personally for helping them on to the tourism ladder.

Mary said: "It was lovely to see so many people come in to wish me well, and I would particularly like to thank all the officers and staff at Ribble Valley Borough Council for their friendliness and kindness, my friends at the North West Tourist Board and the managers of all the region's TICs for their support over the years."

She added: "I would also like to thank local customers and tourist who have visited me here, as I feel I've enjoyed a wonderful rapport with them."

As manager of the centre, Mary has played a significant part in increasing annual visitor numbers to the centre from 33,000 when she first started to 85,000 last year.

She said: "Tourism was very much in its infancy when I first took the job, but I think we have progressed and, hopefully, have persuaded a lot more people to visit the area.

"This year has been the most challenging for us, due to the foot and mouth crisis, but we must look to the future and help the recovery process."

Mary's other significant achievements include the introduction of the Centre of the Kingdom walk in 1999, a series of 40-mile plus footpath trails in the Ribble Valley and, more recently, the launch of the new Longridge Heritage trails.

The new woman at the helm of the TIC will be Sue Walmsley, who has been Mary's assistant for 16 months.

Sue, who is a governor at Bowland High School and secretary of its PTA, was formerly the leader of Downham playgroup and is a member of the village WI.

She and husband David have three children Sarah, 16, Emma, 14, and John, 12.