A NEW pocket guide will be introduced to stimulate tourism in parts of Hampshire.

The 24-page booklets have been produced for visitors to Bishop’s Waltham and Wickham with a brief history of the area in a bid to reinvigorate the way the destinations are advertised.

A consultation was held between businesses and agencies, Glow in Wickham and PMDC Design in Droxford, to create a more individual look to the previous guides.

Heidi Isa, Winchester City Council’s market towns development officer, co-ordinated the production of the guides along with Visit Winchester, also based at the council. She said: “We have been focusing on developing footfall to these beautiful market towns.

“The Pocket Guides mean we can showcase all this hard work.

“The next step of the project will be to distribute the guides further afield.”

Guides are available at Winchester Tourist Information Centre, cafés and shops in Bishop’s Waltham and Wickham, and will soon be available at a selection of hotels and destinations across the region.