“STAYCATION” Britons have helped a Liverpool tourism attractions company stave off the worst of the recession.

Heritage Attractions controls sites that include Land’s End, John O’Groats, Snowdon Mountain Railway and the Needles theme park on the Isle of Wight, from its base at Albert Dock.

The tough trading climate has had an impact, although sales have been prevented from plunging by more Britons seeking to holiday at home this year than in recent times.

Turnover for the year to January 31, 2009, was £9.5m, a reduction on the previous year’s figure of £9.8m.

The directors’ report in accounts filed in June states: “The results for the year were negatively affected by an extremely early Easter when the weather was poor and the general economic climate, which dramatically deteriorated through 2008.

“Due to poor results, the directors took the decision to close the negatively trading World in Miniature site, in Cornwall, and are currently applying for planning permission to redevelop the site as a self-catering lodge park whose financial feasibility will produce a stronger business model.

“The directors have taken appropriate action to improve results for 2009, and the season to date is ahead of budget. expectations.”

Company revenues are made up of attraction admissions, retail sales and hotels and bar sales. Profits before tax were £112,766, compared with £457,000 previously.

Around £112,000 in operating profits was lost as a result of the closure of the Cornwall attraction.

There were 219 employees, with overall staff costs of £3.75m.

The net book value of all attractions was £8.6m.

Dividends paid were £500,000, the same as the previous year’s figure.

The pension scheme deficit was reduced from £383,000 to £213,000 with a further commitment to increase contributions per annum to £45,000 for three years.

BARRY TURNBULL