TOURISM officials have launched a website to promote the areas where ITV’s Midsomer Murders series is filmed, in a bid to capitalise on its success.

South Oxfordshire District Council said visitmidsomer.com had been set up in response to the success of the detective series, which often films location scenes in the district.

The site aims to attract tourists from the more than 200 countries worldwide which the series is shown.

An interactive map shows key Midsomer locations and a blog highlights news items connected with the district’s towns and villages.

Bill Service, the council’s cabinet member for leisure and tourism, said: “We want to draw attention to south Oxfordshire and encourage more visitors.

“ Their interest brings direct benefit to local hotels, shops and restaurants.”

Since John Nettles’s Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby began his investigations in 1997, south Oxfordshire locations have featured in the series more than 30 times.

Wallingford’s Market Place stands in as the centre of the fictional town of Causton.

Viewers have also seen Barnaby solve the murders of a woman strangled in woods near Wallingford, a man bludgeoned to death with a cricket bat in Watlington and a Punch and Judy performer decapitated near Brightwell Baldwin.

Thame’s Spread Eagle Hotel also appeared as the fiction Swan pub.

Mr Service said the series already attracted many visitors to the area but there was the potential to draw in many more.

He added: “According to the latest research for 2009, tourism contributes more than £222m to south Oxfordshire’s economy and supports more than 3,700 jobs.”

Oliver Round-Turner, manager of the George Hotel, in High Street, Wallingford, welcomed the new website.

He said: “There are also Agatha Christie connections in Wallingford and the Rosemary & Thyme TV series was also filmed in the area.

“Lots of people watch these programmes and I hope the new website brings more tourists to the town.”

In June 2008, visitors from Sweden, France and the US were among many keen fans of the series who visited Wallingford for the first Midsomer Murders rally.

John Nettles has announced his retirement from the lead role in Midsomer Murders. He will be replaced by Neil Dudgeon.

Any local business wanting to include a Midsomer Murders connection on the website should email tourism@southoxon.gov.uk