A TOURIST facility used by more than 130,000 people a year could be axed in a bid to save £60,000 a year.

Civic chiefs are looking at closing the Visitor Information Centre that forms part of the New Forest Centre in Lyndhurst, which is packed with tourists in the summer.

The move, which follows the closure of other information centres in the Forest, could result in the loss of five jobs.

Staff deal with 136,000 inquiries a year, with as many as 1,000 visitors a day pouring through the doors at height of the tourist season.

There are fears that the number of people visiting the New Forest Centre - which includes a museum and a gift shop - will decline if the tourist facility closes.

Lyndhurst councillor Pat Wyeth said: "It's very difficult.

"The information centre has been a useful facility in the centre of the village and it will be a shame if it has to close, especially if it means people lose their jobs.

"But footfall has decreased considerably because more people are going online or using their smart phones to get the information they need.

"I just hope that if it does close there won't be any adverse impact on the New Forest Centre."

Funded by the council and the New Forest National Park Authority the building was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1988 and refurbished in 2003.

As well as a museum it boasts a reference library that houses the biggest single collection of Forest-related material that is available to the public.

Its website says the information centre offers "unsurpassed" local knowledge and expertise.

It adds: "Our staff enjoy the New Forest on a daily basis and are always willing to share local secrets to make your visit even more special.

"Pick up leaflets on all there is to see and do, plus the latest updates on offers saving you money around the whole Forest."

A council spokesman said: “We are reviewing our tourism service and as part of that, our future provision of the visitor information service within the New Forest Centre. A report is currently with staff as part of the consultation process."

The information centre is expected to shut next spring if the proposal is given the go-ahead by the council's ruling Cabinet.