For many years Michael and Sabrina Windridge have advised friends and family on places to stay and visit in Norfolk.

But now the couple are hoping to turn advice for friends into a successful online business venture after setting up a new website, which aims to point people in the right direction for the best places to stay and things to do in the county.

The pair have invested around �50,000 to set up GoSeeNorfolk.com, a website which they hope will give visitors to Norfolk easy access to the county's B&Bs, guest houses, country inns and pubs.

Mr Windridge, who is also a South Norfolk district councillor and a former cabinet member for tourism and business development, and works in the House of Commons as a parliamentary assistant for Nuneaton MP Marcus Jones, said they first had the idea around six years ago after frequently being called upon to help friends, family and colleagues find the best places to stay in the county.

'Norfolk has a vast array of delightful accommodation, ranging from five-star country house hotels to luxury, award-winning bed and breakfasts,' Mr Windridge said.

'It's taken five to six years to get to this point, but we've got a good product and a commitment to the idea.'

Officially launched this week, the new website comes as tourism chiefs in Norfolk have reported a strong start to the season with short break specialists and hoteliers noting a surge in bookings, while Visit England is also launching a �4m campaign to promote domestic tourism.

Tourism is worth about �2.6bn a year to Norfolk's economy and Mr Windridge said that while bodies such as Visit East Anglia aimed to act as an umbrella organistion for the industry in Norfolk and Suffolk, the couple wanted to produce something which celebrated Norfolk's unique character in particular.

But, if successful, the model could also be rolled out to other parts of the country, he said.

'We're really excited to be getting involved in the Norfolk Tourism scene,' he added. 'Essentially it's 'pure' Norfolk and not diluting it.

'It's just a matter of being able to find much more easily the type of property which best suits your needs, in the precise location you wish to stay. We believe our website will help visitors to Norfolk in that respect.

'We think we can be more flexible and more convenient to the user.

'In our view, the county's bed and breakfasts represent the jewel in the crown of Norfolk's tourism industry. Their owners deserve greater recognition for the key role they play in the local economy.'

He said that GoSeeNorfolk.com aims to be the most comprehensive online directory of 'better quality' tourism accommodation in Norfolk, with an easy-to-navigate website including information on Norfolk attractions, eating out, shopping and leisure activities.

'We are really excited to be playing our part in Norfolk's thriving tourism economy,' he added.

'With the beauty and tranquillity of the Norfolk Broads, some of the UK's most idyllic coastline, a royal residence, stately homes, historic market towns, picture postcard villages and the vibrant city of Norwich at its heart, Norfolk truly is a world-class destination.'

shaun.lowthorpe@archant.co.uk