A DROP in the temperature failed to put holidaymakers off as tourist attractions and shops reported a busy Easter weekend.

Despite the hope of a scorching Bank Holiday weekend the temperature dropped considerably over Saturday and Sunday.

But tourist attractions in the York and North Yorkshire reported a bumper weekend with Eden Camp doing better than previous years. The museum's director, Steve Jaques, they had been really busy over Friday and Saturday and thought they could have set a record.

Julia Griffith, operations manager at York Dungeon, said the cooler weather on Saturday and Sunday had worked in their favour. She said: "York was packed on Friday, maybe because it had been sunny and lots of people came.

"We were not as busy on Friday but it was boiling hot and I think people were doing other things outside.

"But on Saturday we were very busy and about on a par with last Easter."

Administration manager at BHS, at Monks Cross, York, Emma Famman, said they were closed on Sunday, but figures showed a busy time on Friday and Saturday.

Linda Grey, general manager at Fenwicks, in York's Coppergate Centre, said they had been busy throughout Friday and Saturday.

She said the good weather had brought people out last week, but if the weather was too hot it often kept people away.

The cooler weather also kept many people indoors, carrying out the favourite Bank Holiday pasttime of DIY.

Focus DIY, at Clifton Moor, York, reported it had been busy throughout the Easter weekend.

Brin Hirst, assistant manager at B&Q, said Thursday had been a busy day, but they had been quieter than at other Easters over the weekend.

Updated: 10:19 Monday, April 21, 2003