NORTHUMBERLAND scooped silver in the British Travel Awards to be named one of the best holiday destinations in the UK.

The county’s dedicated visitors, proud residents and local business owners submitted their votes ahead of last week’s awards ceremony. However, Cornwall took the top spot as the Best UK Holiday Destination, taking back the title bestowed upon Northumberland last year.

Following last year’s win Northumberland Tourism and Northumberland County Council launched a major social media campaign to encourage everyone who loves the county to get behind the award to place their votes.

Nigel Jarvis, owner of Hadrian’s Holiday Lodges and chairman of the Heart of Hadrian’s Wall Tourism Association said: “It’s a great boost for everyone who contributes to Northumberland’s wide ranging tourism offer and who calls this fabulous county home.”

Coun. Cath Homer, county councillor for culture, arts, leisure and tourism said: “This is truly fantastic news for Northumberland and we want to thank all those visitors, businesses and residents who took the time to vote.

“To be one of the top two best holiday destinations in the UK demonstrates the love people have for this amazing county and will allow Northumberland to continue to promote itself far and wide so that more people can start discovering the beauty it has to offer.”

David Hall, chairman of Northumberland Tourism, said: “The fact that the visitor economy has grown by 10.3 per cent in the last three years is a testament to that hard work and also just how popular the county is to visitors who just keep coming back.”