LIVERPOOL saw a huge surge in overnight visitors during its Capital of Culture year.

New figures from England’s official tourist board reveal the city saw the biggest growth in tourists of any other destination among the top 10 in England.

More than a quarter more UK-based sight-seers came to Merseyside in 2008 than 2007.

That compares to a 26% drop in people visiting Blackpool and just a 7% rise in the numbers choosing Manchester for a city break.

The news has pushed the city back into the top 10 most visited destinations in England. It last enjoyed a spot in the top flight in 2006.

Overall, UK residents made 5% fewer overnight trips last year, compared to 2007.

But Liverpool’s 2008 cultural programme – which included giant spider La Machine and the Klimt exhibition at Tate Liverpool – helped it buck the downturn.

Nick Brooks-Sykes, the North West Development Agency’s new director of tourism, said last night: “The surge in people who came into the city last year was phenomenal. Top city hotels and attractions are still doing well and that’s the legacy. The city’s firmly on the map as a short-break destination.

“It’s all down to Capital of Culture. We wouldn’t have expected anything else.”