The first service families will come to Pennywell next week

More than 30 attractions in the county have signed up to the scheme, which is the brainchild of Chris Murray, from Pennywell Farm and Wildlife Centre.

From this weekend, the Army Welfare Office will be issuing complementary tickets to the partners and children of deployed service personnel.

Mr Murray said military welfare officers looking after the interests of Forces' families were "over the moon" about the scheme.

Tourist attractions involved in the complimentary tickets offer Atlantic Village, Bideford Becky Estate, Newton Abbot Big Sheep, Bideford Blackpool Sands, Dartmouth Buckfast Butterfly Farm Bygones Victorian Life-Size Street, Torquay Canonteign Falls, near Exeter Cardew Tea Pottery, N Abbot Clovelly Estate, near Bideford Crownhill Fort, Plymouth Crealy Adventure Park, Exeter Dart Pleasure Craft, Dartmouth Dartington Crystal, Torrington Dartmoor Wildlife Park, near Plymouth Devon County Show, Westpoint, Exeter Dingles Steam Village, Lifton Kents Cavern, Torquay Milky Way Adventure Park, near Bideford Miniature Pony Farm, N Abbot Paignton Zoo Pecorama, Seaton Pennywell Farm, near Buckfastleigh Plymouth Dome Powderham Castle, Exeter Quince Honey Farm, South Molton River Dart Adventures, Ashburton South Devon Railway, Buckfastleigh Stuart Line Cruises, Exmouth Torre Abbey, Torquay Tuckers Maltings, Newton Abbot Woodlands Leisure Park, Totnes

"They said it would be a fantastic morale booster for the troops serving in the Gulf, who are aware of what is being arranged," said Mr Murray.

"We want people to feel special and they can then tell their loved ones in the Gulf about the great day they have had."

He said the first service families were expected to visit his centre sometime next week.

"We hope this idea will catch on nationwide," he said.

"It need not just be tourist attractions, it could be hotels or restaurants."

Generous offer

"We need to support the families of servicemen in the UK," said Mr Murray, who said many service families had visited his attraction in the past.

Nick Bennett, Royal Naval area Community Officer, said: "On behalf of service families with service personnel currently working in the Gulf I would like to thank Pennywell and the Devon Association of Tourist Attractions for their very kind and generous offer."

He added: "This is a difficult time for service families and having the opportunity to plan days out with their children will make all the difference.