VISITORS have flocked to South and West Dorset over the summer helping to make it one of the busiest seasons to date, tourism chiefs said today.

A busy bank holiday weekend topped one of the best holiday periods for the industry across the region.

More Europeans are flocking to the area helping to boost visitor numbers.

Hoteliers and tourist attraction operators across the area say they are delighted with the way things have gone so far.

Alan Davis, chief executive of the World Heritage Coast Hospitality Association, which has 450 members representing more than 1,500 businesses, said: "It's been a good season there's no doubt about that - it's the weather that has made the big difference.

"Because of the prolonged sunny spell people have visited the area - it's as good as we could have expected. But it's not the best season ever."

He said the area's attractions have fared better than hoteliers have because people seem to have more money to spend.

"We have seen an increase in overseas visitors, which is good. Our members have been reporting visitors from Holland and Germany. They say there has been a marked increase on previous years."

He said although the bank holiday weekend had been busy it was not as busy as some people had anticipated.

Sue Steel, owner of the eight-bedroom Mayfair Hotel on the Esplanade said: "We have been really busy. The phone has never stopped ringing. I could have filled about eight hotels."

Brian Woods, who runs the Suncroft Hotel also on the Esplanade with his wife Joan said: "It's been busy but it will start to tail off now as the season comes to an end.

"Carnival week and the veterans' week were all extremely busy and we have been busy this weekend."

John Houston, general manager of Abbotsbury Tourism, said the summer season had been busy.

"We have had a tremendous year at the Swannery, children's farm and in the gardens and that's despite the heat. Normally when it's hot we would expect people to go to the beach but the beach has been busy and so have we."

"It's definitely been one of our best years," added Mr Houston.

But the hot weather has put many people off from visiting one of Weymouth's leading attractions, the Sea Life Park.

Kevin Benson, health and safety manager at the Lodmoor attraction, said: "Although we are a park, with plenty of outdoor sites most people think we are an indoor attraction so when it's hot the numbers tend to drop off.

"We thrive in the rain though and when we have had the odd rainy day we have been really busy."