WORCESTER and Hereford Cathedrals, along with the 40 other Cathedrals in England, drew nearly nine million visitors in 2003 - two million more than visited Blackpool Pleasure Beach and five million more than went on the London Eye.

This is just one of many findings in a report on the value of England's cathedrals published yesterday as part of Heritage Counts, an annual audit of the historic environment carried out by English Heritage on behalf of the sector.

The research, which was commissioned jointly by English Heritage and the Association of English Cathedrals, provides the first comprehensive evidence of the substantial economic and social contribution made by cathedrals in their local communities.

The Dean of Worcester, the Very Rev Peter Marshall, said the results of the report came as quite a surprise.

"While we know 'our patch' and how we engage with the community locally, it's very encouraging to discover that this is a general pattern, and gives us a better sense of the cathedrals' mission and ministry to the nation," he added.

"Worcester Cathedral is a significant institution which plays a large part in the city's life and it is the people who make the institution."

Dominic Harbour, head of communications at Hereford Cathedral, said the place of worship was the most visited individual site in Herefordshire with 260,000 visitors a year.

"We have to do everything we can to prepare and deliver a high quality visit while retaining the integrity of the Cathedral," he said.

"And we do everything we can to generate more visitors by creatively using our resources for everything from flower and arts festivals to concerts."

Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, said Britain's cathedrals were at the very heart of England's heritage and, as this new study shows, their contribution reaches far beyond bricks and mortar.