Winchester's tourist information centre's hours of business are to be extended.

It will be open for an extra two hours each Sunday during the summer and the season's start is being brought forward to May.

The centre will open on Easter Day, with the flexibility to open on some additional Sundays out of season, to cater for special occasions.

During the summer, opening hours will be brought forward by half an hour--9.30am to 5.30pm.

Head of tourism, Eloise Appleby, said that a new "back office" service was also being added, in the form of an additional seasonal member of staff to handle incoming phone inquiries, e-mails and accommodation bookings when front desk staff were at their busiest.

"I am particularly pleased that we have found a way of making the improvements at no extra cost to the taxpayer," she added.

A national survey carried out through Southern Tourist Board in 2000 showed that 93% of visitors rated the tourist centre as "very good" or "good".