Harrogate tourism managers have invited trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt to visit the town, after she referred to it as being by the seaside.

Making her Commons statement on the post office on Monday, she rebuked noisy Conservatives by saying "it must be all that seaside air in Harrogate", referring to the party's spring conference held there at the weekend.

In fact the town is situated 70 miles from the nearest coast.

Tourism manager Mike Hine will be sending Hewitt a number of brochures of Harrogate.

"I thought it would be a very good idea to let her know exactly where we are located. She will certainly be a welcome visitor to Harrogate," he said.

"Harrogate is slap bang in the middle of the country. It isn't even close to being by the sea," said Phil Willis, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough.

"We've ordered some donkeys for the beach and I've asked businesses to start selling candyfloss and kiss-me-quick hats. I'm trying to get some of the hotels renamed. The Old Swan should become the Old Sea Pigeon and maybe we should call the conference centre The Waterfront.

"I don't think the people of Harrogate will be too offended though. All publicity is good publicity because we are a tourist centre - it's just a shame a minister doesn't know where it is," he added.