TWO web experts from Okehampton have offered to create a new website that they hope would encourage people to visit the town.

Simon Lloyd and Jenny How, the creators of tourism site Visit Dartmoor, said they wished to expand their online presence by creating an additional website that focused on promoting Okehampton.

Simon said: ‘I was walking around Okehampton the other day, taking lots of pictures. When I got home I put these pictures on Facebook and the response was overwhelming.

‘So many people liked the photos and commented on how beautiful Okehampton was.’

This gave them the idea to create a Visit Okehampton website.

‘We created Visit Dartmoor just over two years ago and it’s doing really well. Last year we had 1.2-million hits! We are up 20% this year too! Why couldn’t the same be done for Okehampton?

‘We think there is a lot going on in the town but we think it needs a little help to draw in tourists. With our experience in tourism we think we will be able to create a website that helps to bring people to the town.’

‘We intend to approach Okehampton Town Council, Dartmoor National Park as well as Devon County Council for their support.’

Simon and Jenny are hoping financial backing will be given to the project.

‘We are already working on the initial framework for the website and hope to have something pretty good to show in the next two weeks,’ added Simon.

‘We hope that the councils will get on board with the idea and support it. We think the town needs to pull together to support Visit Okehampton as it is great way to bring business to the town and show off what a great place it is to live and visit!’

Simon and Jenny said the Visit Okehampton site would be a sister site to Visit Dartmoor and that the website would include information about events, walking routes, cycle routes and other tourist activities.