It seems tourists have some funny ideas about what to expect when visiting England judging by their questions to Tourist Information Centres (TICs).

One visitor to West Yorkshire asked 'What time do the UFOs fly, where can we sit and watch them and would it be alright to take a picnic?', while others have enquired: 'Did Hadrian really build Hadrian's Wall?', 'What time does the Lake District open?' and 'How many fish are there in the sea?'

These are all examples of weird and wonderful questions put to TICs across the country that have been released by the English Tourism Council following its 'Only in Britain. Only in 2002' campaign which aimed to bring an extra one million visitors to the UK.

One tourist asked if 'Dorking is something English people do', while another asked 'Where do we find houses with straw hats on?'

Some even manage to make bizarre accommodation requests: Worcestershire's Malvern TIC was asked to find someone: 'accommodation that will allow a lame duck to stay with me in my room', while Stratford-upon-Avon TIC was asked to ifnd someone to stay for 'two adults, one child and a rabbit with its own sleeping bag'.

Pity the tourist who was no doubt disappointed upon realising the 'topless bus' was not quite what they'd imagined. Details: www.onlyinbritain.com