COUGHTON Court opened its doors on Saturday for the 2003 visitor season.

The ancestral home of the Throckmorton family, situated just outside Alcester, had thousands of visitors last year and believes this year will top its success.

Coughton Court's gardens have also been quietly building a national reputation and this year more than 200,000 daffodils have been planted.

Coughton Court will be open on weekends until the end of March and then from Wednesday to Sunday including some bank holidays until September.

The court is also offering a special Mother's Day meal on March 30.

Call 01789 400777 to book a place for the lunch and for more details on opening times call 01789 762435.