SIGNS of Japanese visitors’ love of the picture-postcard Cotswolds have appeared at Moreton Station.

A number of signs in Japanese, welcoming visitors from the Far East country and directing them to buses, taxis, hotels and public toilets, have been put up at the station.

The signs are the idea of station manager Teresa Ceesay, who noticed that staff at Moreton – described on the signs as the Gateway to the North Cotswolds – were increasingly being asked for information and directions by Japanese tourists.

Ms Ceesay contacted Chris Dee, tourism manager of Gloucestershire County Council’s Cotswold and Forest of Dean Tourism, who helped with the design and translation of the signs, which have been funded by First Great Western.

“The Cotswolds is so well promoted in Japan. It’s just to help tourists when they arrive,” said Ms Ceesay, who manages all the stations along the line between Hanborough and Pershore.

“The signs are only at Moreton because they tend to come into Moreton to go to Bourton and Stow. The Japanese tourists love Chipping Campden,” she added.

Since the signs first went up in October, Ms Ceesay has had good feedback from visitors. “We’ve had a very positive reaction,” she said.

Mr Dee of Cotswold Tourism said the Cotswolds attracted about 50,000 Japanese visitors a year and efforts were being made to get them to switch from coach parties passing through the area to staying locally.

“Although the Japanese are coming to stay they are wary about driving here. The train is very important and Moreton is the main stop,” said Mr Dee.

Brian Clayton, secretary of the Cotswold Line Promotion Group, said: “If there are that many Japanese tourists and they can make use of these signs then it’s a good initiative.”

At a recent British exhibition in Osaka, Japanese visitors spent £1.5 million in 10 days on Cotswold products, including cream teas produced by Huffkins Tearooms from Stow and puddings from The Pudding Club at the Three Ways Hotel in Mickleton.

The Moreton signs have featured in an article in Visit Britain magazine, which is circulated in Japan.

The current exchange rate means that Britain is virtually half price for Japanese visitors.