ONE of Oxfordshire's best-loved attractions opens this week, with a flurry of events aimed at attracting local people - many of whom have never visited.

Cogges Manor Farm, in Witney, opens its doors today, after its winter closure.

This year, the Oxfordshire County Council-run living history museum is making a special effort to appeal to people living in the county, with events every weekend and activities every day of the school holiday.

The museum includes a preserved manor house, traditional farm and walled kitchen garden.

The manor is presented in the style of a Victorian farmhouse - complete with maids and labourers in period costume.

Ahead of its opening, staff, including marketing officer Lorraine Horne, have been getting ready, tidying up the farm, and spring-cleaning the manor. One of the top attractions for families will be an Easter Eggstravaganza, with activities such as an Easter egg trail and egg-decorating. It runs from April 7 to 9.

The following weekend, April 14 to 15, is New Arrivals Weekend, when children can meet the newborn animals and even bottle-feed the lambs.

Other events being planned for the season include dancing, Victorian-style portrait painting in May, a rural traditions weekend in August, threshing in September and an apple day in October.

On top of this, there is the usual range of daily attractions, including butter-making, hand-milking and Victorian cooking on the range.

To help local people make the most of the museum, the council is offering a range of season tickets, starting from £15, which will allow for after-school visits, picnics in the orchard and tea in the Old Parlour café.

Oxfordshire county councillor Don Seale, cabinet member for cultural services, said: "Cogges is both beautiful and interesting, which is why it draws so many people from far and wide.

"But it's also a fantastic local resource. It's true that people who have lived all their lives in an area never get around to visiting the major attractions on their doorstep.

"We want to encourage more local people to see Cogges as a place to drop in on, not just a special day out."

For full details of concessionary tickets and to view the events programme visit the website at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cogges or call 01993 772602.