TOURISTS spent an estimated £92.6 million in Harrow in 2004, according to new research published by the London development agency.

More than 60 pent of that was from overseas visitors.

The borough's share of London's total earnings from tourism that year, £12,980 million, was 0.7 per cent.

Visitors to the borough from other parts of the country made 117,000 trips and stayed for 328,000 nights.

Overseas visitors made the same number of trips, but stayed longer, 818,000 nights. The leader of Harrow Council, Councillor Chris Mote, said: "This new research highlights the important bearing that tourism already has on our local economy.

"It is for this reason that tourism development is classed as one of our main priorities in shaping Harrow's future."