HEREFORD has been at the centre of a Europe-wide project to halt the decline of tourism in rural areas.

The EU-funded Sprite project aims to analyse the potential for better integrated tourism in Europe's lagging rural regions and assess how improved links can be developed with local and regional resources, activities and products.

Partners in the project, which involves England, Wales, France, Ireland, Greece, Spain and the Czech Republic, held their first annual conference at the Green Dragon Hotel in Hereford last month.

At the meeting, local businessmen and women made presentations on projects funded under the EU Leader II Programme in Herefordshire, which is a study region for the project.

Delegates heard about the Eardisland Whole Village Marketing Project, where organisers overcame local opposition to developing Eardisland as a tourist attraction through the formation of a Community Millennium Fund and a Project Management Committee.

"Through the work that has been done with the Eardisland Whole Village Marketing Project, the quaint, unspoilt beauty of the village has been maintained, yet it's been successfully promoted as a worthwhile place to visit for tourists," said spokeswoman Joanne Watkins.

"Funding has been secured to maintain the local church and renovate the dovecote in the centre of the village as an information access point."

Restaurateur Wiz Clift gave a presentation on the Teme Valley database of local producers and the Teme Valley Association.

Ms Clift was the only British exhibit at the Salone del Gusto exhibition in Italy last year, which promotes fine, local foods.

She has also successfully promoted a farmers' market which, prior to the foot-and-mouth outbreak, attracted farmers from all over the Teme Valley.

A film entitled Views From the Black Hill was shown, describing the problems faced by the people of rural West Herefordshire and how their traditional way of life is threatened by the farming crisis.

The Sprite panel will now carry out research to assess the importance of local resources and activities to the economy, tourism market trends and the extent of local tourism development.