RURAL tourism businesses in Lancashire are benefiting from a paid undergraduate placement scheme offered through the County Council's economic development department.

The three-year project is run in partnership with the Lancashire Rural Tourism Initiative, Lancashire County Council and the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board.

The project has two aims: to help small and medium sized rural tourism businesses with marketing and other associated projects and to help undergraduates gain work experience.

The first three students are nearly half way through their placements, and the county council is recruiting applicants for 2006/7 and offering 11 to 12 placement opportunities.

Companies benefiting from the first placements included the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board, Bashall Barn, near Clitheroe, and Oswaldtwistle Mills.

To apply for a placement contact Louise Kite on 01772 551888.