Liz CoatesThousands of holiday leaflets sent out to homes across the country have confused Great Yarmouth with the town of Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight.Liz Coates

Thousands of holiday leaflets sent out to homes across the country have confused Great Yarmouth with the town of Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight.

In a leaflet accompanying its main holiday brochure, Warner Leisure Hotels gave trippers an extra reason to visit Norton Grange on the island - the 2010 Maritime Festival where shanty singers apparently mingle with colourful choirs along bustling South Quay.

Unfortunately for Warners the maritime festival is happening in the Norfolk resort and not 243 miles away on the Isle of Wight.

The company's website also elevates Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight to Great Yarmouth, describing it as once the centre of the greatest herring fishery in the world.

Its festival blurb is almost word for word as it appears on Great Yarmouth's official tourist site. It describes the festival as 'a riot of colour and maritime music, featuring performances, shanty groups, folk bands, choirs and brass bands, traditional tall ships, expedition vessels. A steam drifter and lifeboats will be moored on South Quay to admire and go aboard.'

'Norton Grange,' it adds, 'is the perfect place from which to enjoy this great event.'

Alan Carr, head of tourism at Great Yarmouth Borough Council, described it as 'a serious crossing of wires by Warner'.

Jim Forward, managing director of Warner Leisure Hotels, said the mistake made in a recent mailing to regular guests did confuse Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, with Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight.

He said: 'While the people of the Isle of Wight would undoubtedly enjoy hosting such a great event [the Maritime Festival], at the moment it is only Great Yarmouth that does so.

'Warner would like to reassure everybody that if you are interested in the Maritime Festival, we will make sure that you don't head the wrong way.'