CAMELOT theme park near Chorley has been voted one of the top days out in the North West by school pupils from the region.

A total of 5,000 primary and secondary school pupils in the county were asked what their favourite day out was and most plumped for Camelot, along with Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire.

The schools were targeted in a mailshot by the North West Tourist Board to find out their top choice for a day out.

The three nominations will be entered into the North West Tourism Industry Awards 1998 which will be held at Liverpool FC's home ground, Anfield on Tuesday, June 30.

All the schools which took part in the survey will be entered into a draw to win a day trip for the whole class from Liverpool to Dublin aboard the SuperSeaCat high-speed ferry. Dorothy Naylor, chief executive of the North West Tourist Board, said: "We are always interested to hear what everyone thinks of attractions in their own region and I congratulate the schools on nominating an excellent choice."

Camelot offers attractions from medieval jousting to white knuckle rides like the Tower of Terror.

With 7.8 million visitors to Blackpool Pleasure Beach every year, it is the UK's biggest free entry tourist attraction, with attractions like The Big One.

By contrast, Quarry Bank Mill at Styal is a Georgian cotton mill where visitors learn about the history of the cotton industry brought to life by interactive displays and film shows.

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