TOURISM bosses in Cornwall are gearing up for a boom thanks to the new version of Poldark which starts on Sunday evening on BBC1.

The series is set to showcase the stunning beauty of Cornwall and, with millions of viewers expected to tune in, the county's tourism industry is set for a major boost.

The first version of Poldark in the 1970s led to a major influx of visitors – and history seems likely to be repeated.

The new eight-week series, set in the 18th century, was mainly filmed at locations across Cornwall.

Some of the first scenes of the first episode at 9pm on Sunday were filmed at Minions on Bodmin Moor.

A tourism business already benefiting from the series is Hallagenna Riding on the moor. The business provided accommodation and stabling for stunt riders and horses while some of the filming took place on the moor. Now it has launched a new Poldark Trail which takes in some of the locations used.

Further west, Koru Kayaking is offering a Poldark Country Kayak Adventure around St Agnes Head, a Poldark filming location.

Malcolm Bell, of Visit Cornwall, said: 'If the initial reviews are anything to go by, Poldark looks set to be a massive hit. The opportunity is there to be seized and I look forward to working with the tourism industry to turn the success of the production into a success for Cornwall.'