A special visitor got a sneak-preview of the revamped Jorvik Viking Centre before the grand opening on Saturday.

Sue Lawley, one of the country's best-known broadcasters and journalists, visited the centre as part of a trip to the county with the English Tourism Council - the first to the region in ten years.

The famous centre has been closed to the public for five months and has undergone a major £5 million transformation. The centre has been completely updated using modern technology, elements of film and moving exhibits and visitors will be conducted around the centre using mono-rail style time capsules.

But Magnus Magnusson's famous commentary has been consigned to history and replaced by television historian and broadcaster Michael Wood.

Ms Lawley was in the county to attend a meeting between the Board of the English Tourism Council and the Yorkshire Tourist Board, where they devised a plan to combat the estimated £60 million effects of the foot and mouth crisis on tourism businesses.

The English Tourism Council has been given up to £50 million by the Government to help tourism in England cope with the after-effects of the disease.

Updated: 11:38 Thursday, April 05, 2001