A RECORD number of people visited Upton's tourist information centre in the first two months of the year.

Figures for January and February are up 85 per cent and 84 per cent respectively, representing a combined total of more than 5,000.

Angela Lessimore, tourism manager at Malvern Hills District Council, said the increase could be partly due to greater promotion of the area at national shows and exhibitions.

She said that new window displays featuring local arts and crafts businesses and the fact that the TIC is now the sole agent for tickets for the Upton Jazz Festival could also have helped.

Ms Lessimore described the increase in attendance as "phenomenal".

"I'm delighted for Upton's sake," she said. "It's nice to see a positive return so early in the year."

Steve Arber, manager of Upton Marina, said the first two months of the year were also a record for them.

He said business for the period was the best marina operator Walton Marine had seen in its 17 years at the site.

He added that the figures for the two months would normally be seen in summer, describing them as "outstanding".

However, the increase in visitors has not filtered through to the town's shops, according to the chairman of Upton Tourism and Trade Association.

Bill Dovey, who runs a gift shop on High Street, said traders have not seen sales rise in comparison to the same period last year. In fact, they have dropped.

"Things are not as good as normal," he said. "However, we hope that with the weather improving it will pick up. We anticipate a good season."