A TOURIST board founded in Worcester to encourage people to come to the region is to close.

The Heart of England Tourist Board will close next March because of a lack of funds and 20 jobs will be lost.

Advantage West Midlands, a Government agency set up to promote business in the West Midlands, is stopping its funding for the group, based in Larkhill Road, off London Road, Worcester.

Board chairman Sir William Laurence called it a "difficult time" for the group.

The group offers public relations, marketing, staff training and publications to the tourism industry - from the smallest Worcester bed and breakfast to large chains across the region.

It also offers research for the public sector, including visitor surveys for Worcester City Council.

Sir William said it was a big loss for Worcester and the wider Midlands region.

He said: "The independent voice for the tourism industry has been thrown away.

"There are people who have been employed by the group a number of years and they will unfortunately be made redundant. The biggest factor was the funding - we found it was being taken away from us and couldn't raise the funds ourselves to make up for it."

City centre manager Georgia Smith, head of tourism group Visit Worcester, said: "The news comes as a surprise to me. On a personal level, it's sad about the loss of jobs in Worcester."

Heart of England Tourist Board chief executive David Moyser said he would like to thank all the businesses and individuals that have worked with the group.

Strategic tourism body Tourism West Midlands - based in Birmingham - will continue to support the industry across the region.