Hamble Valley Food and Drink Festival really hit the spot this year, attracting 24,000 visitors who spent about £384,000 during the festival fortnight.

The figures reinforce claims that the area is now well established as a visitor destination.

Last year Hamble Valley Tourism - the branding for tourism services provided by Eastleigh Council - released

figures showing that tourism was worth more than £77m to the Eastleigh borough.

UK visitors were said to spend almost £60m a year in the borough and visitor spending sustained an estimated 2,254 jobs either directly or indirectly.

Now the tourism unit is seeking to develop partnerships with local pubs, tea rooms, restaurants and cafes to highlight places where visitors to the area can go out to eat or enjoy a drink.

And with plans already under way for next year's Food and Drink Festival, tourism chiefs are also looking for ideas for new venues.

Local bed and breakfast owners are said to frequently comment that they would like to have more information about good quality eating places to suggest to their guests, while visitors have asked for such information to be included in future Hamble Valley visitor guides.

Tourism marketing officer Sophie Boxall said: "We are always looking at ways to improve our service to visitors and are also keen to establish these links now to work together during the 2005 Hamble Valley Food and Drink Festival."

Next year's festival will be held from June 25 to July 10 in conjunction with the countywide Hampshire Food Festival, and Eastleigh's tourism unit says it wants to offer a wide range of events for children and adults which are "fun, informative, indulgent and healthy".

Plans are already under way to incorporate the SeaBritain celebrations - a national year-long

festival of the sea marking the 200th anniversary of the death of Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Eastleigh's tourism unit is keen to make the most of the borough's heritage and maritime connections - one of Nelson's flagships was built at Bursledon - and is calling for anyone with ideas for an event, a new visitor venue, a business which could contribute or potential sponsors to come forward. They can contact Sophie Boxall on 023 8068 8404.