A CAMPAIGN was launched today to attract visitors to Dorset to see the settings of famous books.

The campaign organised by Visit Britain aims to capture the imagination of the UK's children and inspire them and their parents to visit the locations that appear in their favourite books.

Tourists will be encouraged to visit the many sites in Purbeck that Enid Blyton used for her Famous Five adventures.

Blyton visited Purbeck three times a year with her family and used the Dorset scenery as inspiration for her massively popular children's adventure books.

Corfe Castle is the inspiration for Kirrin Castle, Kimmeridge Bay was where Five Fell into Adventure and Hartland Moor is the Mystery Moor.

These locations are already popular destinations for Blyton fans and the Ginger Pop Shop in Corfe Castle runs activities for people interested in Blyton's connection with Purbeck.

Near Weymouth visitors can see where the smugglers in John Mead Falkner's Moonfleet operated on Chesil Beach and at the Fleet.

To make tracing the places that inspired authors easier, Visit England has produced a free map that shows where popular children's books are set. It is available on the website www.enjoyengland.com/storybook or by calling 0845 4562332.

Visit Britain's marketing director Mike Bedingfield said: "England has been the inspiration for the greatest collection of children's literature in the world - everything from Beatrix Potter to Harry Potter.

"Storybook England makes it easier for children, their families and friends to find the magical places that have fired the imagination of the greatest authors."

Also launched today is a £3.6million advertising campaign based on the theme of South West Stories' designed to promote the South West a year-round destination. Deputy chief executive of South West Tourism Robin Baker said: "Tourism is worth approximately £8billion to the South West economy each year, therefore it is important we maintain this income and create a sustainable tourism industry for the future."

The campaign will highlight the diversity of the region by drawing on the stories of people who live and work in the South West.

It aims to promote business as well as tourism in the area and is run by a partnership between the South West of England Regional Development Agency, the South West Regional Assembly and South West Tourism.