Award boosts stately home visitors

Staff at Chatsworth House say the publicity generated by a television programme has led to an increase in visitor numbers.

The Channel 5 series "Britain's Finest", run in conjunction with The Radio Times, gave Chatsworth the accolade of Britain's best stately home.

Figures show 400,000 people have visited the house, gardens and farmyard this year - up 4 % on the same period last year.

Managers at the estate agree coming top of the television poll certainly prompted more people to come and see for themselves.

Simon Seligman from Chatsworth said: "We have, of course, had this wonderful weather and we have been very lucky this year that we came top of the television programme Britain's Finest Houses.

"We came third in the finest gardens programme as well and we have seen the numbers go up as a result of that television exposure."