Tourism in Brighton and Hove is booming in the wake of the foot-and-mouth crisis which has shut much of the countryside.

While some rural parts of Sussex are suffering a 70 per cent loss in tourist trade, Brighton and Hove is enjoying one of its best years.

At the start of the season, many attractions are reporting at least a ten per cent rise in income and visitors compared with last year.

More visitors, both from home and abroad, are flocking to the seaside this Easter weekend because they fear the countryside is still out of bounds.

The city has also been featured in an international promotional campaign across 27 countries by The British Tourist Authority.

It is using the city as a key weapon in its fight to bring tourists back to Britain after the country's image was damaged by reports of foot-and-mouth.

Amanda Shepherd, head of tourism and conferences for Brighton and Hove City Council, said a likely explanation was the combination of the city's promotions, the publicity after Brighton and Hove gained city status and the number of people choosing city breaks instead of countryside holidays in the wake of foot-and-mouth.

She said this could only benefit Sussex as a whole as people discovered attractions in the county were still open.

She said: "It's a great destination in itself but it is also a base which you can use to visit historical sites and towns across Sussex.

"It's great that we are being presented overseas as one of Britain's top attractions both as a place of arts and culture as well as seaside fun."

Tourist accommodation in the city has been fully booked for the Easter weekend. Some visitors are taking rooms in Worthing instead.

The Royal Pavilion has had a ten per cent increase in income during the first week of April compared with last year's figures, while the Booth Museum, Hove Museum and Preston Manor have all had more visitors than at the same time last year.

Julia Gallagher, marketing and public relations manager for the Palace Pier, said: "We have had a very good week and a good year so far.

"We hoping for an excellent Easter turnout. We don't know if the foot- and-mouth crisis has been driving people from the countryside to the city or if it is the new city status but we have definitely seen a boom in trade.

"Questionnaires on the pier have shown that we are getting visits from both the domestic and European tourists."

However, tourism in many rural parts of the Sussex has been badly hit by foot-and-mouth.

Wealden District Council, whose tourist area spans from Herstmonceux Castle to Birling Gap, said losses could amount to millions of pounds if the foot-and-mouth crisis continued into the peak summer season.

A spokesman said: "Feedback to Wealden council's tourism team has revealed an average 70 per cent loss.

"Attractions that have reopened have reported improvements to trade but enterprises such as bed and breakfast establishments on farms, farm tourist attractions, farm caravan and camping sites and retail outlets on farms are suffering through cancellations and reductions in forward business."

West Sussex County Council said there had been a drop in income across the board.

A spokesman said: "We have launched a major advertising campaign saying our rights of way may be closed but our attractions are open.

"It would be good to support your local attractions over Easter"