A Bowness businesswoman is aiming to lure young visitors to the Lake District with the legend of the monster,  Bownessie.

Naz Craig is launching a series of products including a story and colouring book in a bid to engage youngsters and make their visits memorable.

The book features a cartoon character created by Naz and drawn by Kendal artist, Robin Evans. The range also includes a toy monster, and augmented reality posters and postcards.

Naz, the managing director of the Bownessie Trading Company Ltd, was drawn to the idea of a tourist attraction back in 2006 when the first photos of a strange creature in Windermere were taken. A local  newspaper subsequently dubbed the creature "Bownessie" following the sighting reported by a university lecturer, Steve Burnip, from the eastern shore of the lake.

Since then Bownessie has been "sighted" several times in recent years, although efforts to track down the monster by Crypto-Zoologists have so far proved fruitless.

"I have a lot of friends and colleagues in the tourism industry, and in these difficult economic times I know that we have to come up with different ways to attract a new generation of visitors to the area," she said.

She created the images and idea of Bownessie's character and what Bownessie would be like, a fun and friendly amphibious creature . "Robin has helped to visualise the character and make him come alive by his fantastic imagery and artwork," she said.

It was during a stay in hospital following a serious illness that she received a card from Robin featuring the cartoon character and bearing the words "Get well soon - Bownessie needs you".

"It became a real motivation in my recovery, and my determination to do something to help," said Naz. "There's a lot of fun in believing in myths and legends, and children enjoy identifying with characters. I'm planning to create some activities that the children can take part in. And their parents will be happy if they are!

"I really hope this range of products and activities will help highlight how much the Lakes has to offer to visitors, young and old."

Ends

Notes to editors:

• There have been several "sightings" by locals and tourists of a strange creature in Windermere since "Bownessie" was first reported in 2006. The story has been covered globally, and has brought TV crews and underwater scientists to the Lake.
• Windermere Reflections is planning guided storytelling walks along the shore of Windermere in the summer with Bownessie the story topic
• The products will be available in shops shortly. Images are attached here for publication, and these are the copyright of the Bownessie Trading Company Ltd.
• Follow the Bownessie story at http://bownessie.wordpress.com
• For further details contact:  Eileen Jones, 07791 178903. eileen@cumbriapr.co.uk