Tourism leaders in Cumbria fear the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease could prove to be another blow to the county's struggling industry.

Cumbria Tourist Board was hoping for a bumper summer in the Lake District after a visit by Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The county was one of the worst hit by last years foot-and-mouth epidemic and lost millions of pounds in tourism revenue.

Chris Collier, chief executive of Cumbria Tourist Board, said she feared tourists could be put off by the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Barrow-in-Furness.

There is absolutely no reason why people shouldn't continue to visit this county and even Barrow

Chris Collier, Cumbria Tourist Board

More than 80 people have been confirmed as suffering from the disease, with 19 people in intensive care in hospital.

Investigations into the outbreak have centred on the council-run arts and civic centre in Barrow-in-Furness.

Visitor numbers to the area were picking up after the farm virus kept tourists away in their droves last year.

Hoteliers were hopeful for the summer after Mr Blair and his family enjoyed a short break in the county last weekend.

Source identified

But Ms Collier said she feared the Legionnaires' disease outbreak could prove to be another setback.

She encouraged people to visit the county, saying the source of the outbreak in Barrow had very probably been found and isolated.

Ms Collier said: "There is absolutely no reason why people shouldn't continue to visit this county and even Barrow.

"The area suspected as being the source of the outbreak has been cordoned off.

"The disease cannot be caught from other people - it can't be passed from person to person.

"So there isn't any reason for people to avoid the area."