120,000 visit Da Vinci site.

Byline: By MAGGIE BARRY

A RECORD 120,000 people visited Rosslyn Chapel last year after the Da Vinci Code was filmed there.

Numbers have nearly doubled since actor Tom Hanks and director Ron Howard shot scenes from Dan Brown's hit novel there last summer.

Some 68,000 people toured the 15th century chapel in Roslin, Midlothian in 2004 - up from 38,000 in 2003.

Admission charges from last year's record visits will help pay for a big revamp over the next three years.

A new pounds 1.5million visitor centre will be built, the chapel roof, windows and stonework fixed. New heating, lights and ventilation will also be put in.

And a detailed analysis of the building's history and any damage will be done.

Stuart Beattie, of the Rosslyn Trust, said: "Visitor numbers were fairly steady until the book came out, but there's been a huge increase since.

"We're expecting to record an extra 30,000 visitors in 2006 after the film is released in the spring. It's encouraging as it will help pay for repairs."

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