MAVIS MANIA HITS LAKELAND VILLAGE.

A Quiet corner of the Lake District is enjoying a tourist boom - thanks to Mavis Wilton from Coronation Street.

Millions of viewers have watched as dithering Mavis prepares to quit the Street to run a bed and breakfast in the village of Cartmel in South Cumbria.

Now the village, previously best known for its twice-yearly race meetings, has been hit by "Mavis mania".

Tom Murray, who owns the Cavendish Arms, said visitors had flocked to the village since Mavis first mentioned it.

"I have never been so full as I have in the last three weeks. Before this the greatest excitement was when the council came and painted white lines on the road," said Mr Murray, who was sent a signed picture of Mavis by programme-makers Granada after he wrote a tongue-in-cheek letter offering her a job as a housekeeper.

Local restaurant owner Robert Johnson added: "The effect has been really significant. The area is particularly idyllic in the autumn and it is always good to see more people."

Viewers will see recently-widowed Mavis, played by actress Thelma Barlow, bow out of the soap in a week's time when she packs her bags for the Lakes.

But fans looking for Mave's B&B will be disappointed. All the "Cartmel" scenes were shot at a house in the countryside just outside Manchester.