The Mourne Mountains are to get a £1.5m boost in conservation funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Funders pointed out that the mountains inspired CS Lewis's Kingdom of Narnia and have been immortalised in song, as well as being earmarked as one of the sites for Northern Ireland’s first potential National Parks.

But the news comes just weeks after Newcastle traders accused the Northern Ireland Tourist Board of not doing enough to attract visitors south of Belfast, as opposed to north to the Antrim coast.

The HLF hoped that the funding would go towards restoring stone walls, developing walking trails and making Mourne heathland thrive again.

Initial funding of £1,040,200 will also go to the Ring of Gullion, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with strong archaeological heritage.

Welcoming the news, environment minister Alex Attwood said: "This is great news for two of our most prized landscapes, Mourne and Ring of Gullion, both of which are designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is clear evidence of the growing recognition that investing in our natural and built heritage can produce very significant community benefits as well as a sound economic return."

Head of Heritage Lottery Fund Northern Ireland, Paul Mullan, said: "The Mournes are one of the most iconic landscapes of such natural beauty we cherish in Northern Ireland. This scheme will ensure long-term management, promising long-term benefits for the local communities, visitors to the Mournes and to the heritage of this magnificent landscape."

(NE)