Dorchester's tourism will be given a shot in the arm by the town council during the coming year as the country comes out of the pandemic.

Work is progressing with a number of partners to make more of the county town's heritage attractions including launching a new website for visitors.

The town council is also expected to back new tourism information services if Dorset Council cuts its £80,000 a year funding for the town's tourist information office.

But town councillor Alistair Chisholm, who works as a tour guide, warned that the initial return of visitors, post-Covid, was likely to be a trickle rather than a flood.

He said the town ought to be making use of the time it had to smarten up the area, including completing works around the Town Pump which the council has set money aside for: "I'm afraid parts of our town are now looking a little shabby and first impressions do count," he told Monday evening's policy committee.

Cllr Francis Hogwood argued against making too much of the town's tourism information only available online or from proposed self-serve computer information points around the town. She said that many of the generation which was likely to be attracted by Thomas Hardy and the town's history preferred face to face contact, even if they could use smart devices.

Town clerk Adrian Stuart has outlined a number of options to further develop tourism in the town ranging from services, largely run by volunteers, to working with partners such as the County Museum, Shire Hall and Dorchester Arts, or taking almost everything online.

Money has been aside in next year's budget for a new staff member to work on promoting tourism in the town.

Cllr Molly Rennie argued that the council should take no firm decisions, other than to back promoting tourism in principle, until Dorset Council decided in March what it intended to do about funding the tourist information office.

"We will need to remain fluid. We might need to offer support in any direction," she said, "We have got a lot to offer and have got to do out absolute best for the town."

Cllr Sue Biles said that through tourism the footfall for the town's shops and markets could be given a boost. "It's very important we do some pump priming," she said.