A NEW programme of Winchester tours has been launched for 2012.

Winchester Area Tourist Guides Association (WATGA) is returning with a host of old favourites including the ‘spooky’ tours and the Chesil Tunnel tours.

Two ‘Sporting Winchester’ tours will look at leisure activities in the city from medieval times to the present day while the Tuesday evening series of walks returns in Easter until September.

There will also be two free taster tours – a lamplight tour on March 2 and a ‘Winchester Through the Ages’ tour on March 10.

During the Olympics, there will be three daily one-hour tours showing off what the city has to offer to encourage visitors to stick around.

It is the third year WATGA have been working in partnership with Winchester Business Improvement District which has seen numbers on tours double since 2009.

Chris Turner, Executive Director of Winchester BID, said: “Supporting organisations such as the Winchester Area Tourist Guides Association is vital to maintain the great tourism and growth Winchester has developed over the years.”

Winchester BID is also sponsoring production of the annual ‘Discover Winchester’s Secrets’ leaflet that provides details of all walks available during 2012.

For the full list of special guided tours visit winchestertouristguides.com or call the Tourist Information Centre on 01962 840500.