More than 400 people journeyed to Skelwith Fold Caravan Park to take part in a celebration of England's patron saint over the weekend of April 25 and 26.

They came from across Britain following national media coverage of the park's offer of free accommodation on St George's Day, the previous Thursday.

Most, however, stayed on as paying guests for the weekend's patriotic festivities – and their numbers were boosted by others arriving during what would normally be a quiet post-Easter week.

Skelwith owner Henry Wild said the free-for-all on its 150 touring pitches was a bid to give Cumbria a head start in the race to woo visitors this year.

The national tourist board, VisitBritain, has predicted that this will be a boom year for UK holidays – and, according to Henry, advance bookings at his park are already well up on previous years.

Festivities at the award-winning park included a special 'barbecued beef of old England' party on the Saturday, and springtime discovery walks around Skelwith's 130-acre grounds where a raft of wildlife conservation measure have secured a clutch of prestigious conservation accolades.

Particularly encouraging, said Henry, was the presence of visitors from overseas, including Holland. The greater buying-power of the Euro, he added, could signal a return of mainland European guests in greater numbers to Cumbria this year.

The park's St George's Day celebrations were featured not just in the national press in the UK, but also in publications as far away as America.

"Many businesses in Cumbria rely wholly or partially on the tourism trade, and for many it will be more important than ever this year for them to receive their fair share of visitor spending.

"I hope that our event will send out the signal that Lakeland is now open for the holiday season, and is the perfect escape from the economic gloom!"concluded Henry.