A LEADING Liberal Democrat in West Devon and Torridge has called on the Government to implement targeted VAT reductions in order to boost visitor numbers in the area.

Prospective parliamentary candidate Adam Symons said tourism was a key provider of jobs in the area, but other countries had benefited recently from reductions in VAT on hotel accommodation and restaurants.

He is is calling for constituency MP Conservative Geoffrey Cox to support Early Day Motion 2209, which calls for similar targeted VAT reductions to boost the tourism industry.

Mr Symons said: 'Research has shown that this could create up to 23,000 new jobs and additional revenue to the Exchequer of £600-million a year. Tourism is so crucial to jobs in the area, and therefore we really need to support it.

'I will be doing my utmost to support local tourist attractions and accommodation, and I would expect others to follow suit. If we generate new jobs this could be a real shot in the arm to local young people who are currently struggling to find work.'