WILTSHIRE'S major tourist attractions are bucking the national trends this year.

The Office for National Statistics reports a fall in the total number of visitors to Britain, but Wiltshire's attractions are not only surviving, many are thriving.

Nationally, up to August this year, visitor numbers are three per cent down on the same period in 1999.

Claire Lyall, curator of Trowbridge museum, reports an average of 20,000 visitors a year.

One reason for its continued success, she feels, is local support. A visitor to the museum is more likely to come from Trowbridge itself than from abroad.

She commented: "We've got a good local following. People in Trowbridge see it as their museum. They want to support it and they do support it."

Longleat spokesman Florence Wallace said: "We had a particularly good year last year. At the moment we are on a par with last year's figures."

Longleat attracts visitors from all over the world, but they too appreciate local support. Many people who live nearby visit Longleat regularly.

Bowood Estates also seem little affected by the national trend. Although visitor numbers are expected to fall slightly this year, it is not something that house administrator Beverley Gould feels is anything more than a natural variation.

Dominic Huston, of South West Tourism, said cheaper holidays abroad and the continued strength of the pound have led to a two per cent drop in the number of visitors to the region in April, May and June, compared to last year.