Rescuing injured ducks from the Mere and calling out the paramedics for elderly women who have collapsed in the street are all in a day's work for staff there.

They have even had to deal with a suicide attempt.

Every day hundreds of people pass through the doors of the building, which is tucked on the edge of Mere's Mouth, asking for everything from bus timetables to details for weekends away.

Doreen Collins, who works at the centre, said: "When we first started, people used to look at the centre and not come in because they were not tourists.

"It has taken a few years for people to realise we are more than just a visitor centre and local people do use us now."

During a busy Friday morning at Diss TIC, requests flooded in.

Some people, including two American couples, wanted to know where to visit in Diss and the surrounding area.

"A lot of people come to visit Bressingham as it is certainly our nearest attraction," said Hilary Marsh from the centre.

"People who are interested in gardens, steam trains or Dad's Army want to go there – it's a good all-round family day out."

Others popped in to put posters up in the window advertising events or to plan a bus trip to London.

"When I first started, I researched all the questions I was asked but no-one would ever ask the same question again," said Mrs Marsh.

"You have to keep switching your brain all the time – I love it."

One thing which the women have noticed an increase in, is foreign visitors keen to trace their family trees.

"We get a lot of people from America coming here for that," said Mrs Collins.

"We now stock DVDs about the American airbases so people can use them.

"We are finding that it's the third generation who are coming back, chasing their great-grandparents."

As well as providing hundreds of maps and brochures, Diss TIC also stocks souvenirs from the town and surrounding area.

Tea towels, aprons, shopping bags, sweatshirts, coasters and greetings cards by local artists line the shelves.

Staff at the centre welcome plans to attract more tourists to Diss.

They have even suggested a bus service which would take people on a scenic tour of the town and surrounding attractions.

Diss Tourist Information Centre is open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm (July and August) and 10am to 4pm the rest of the year.

For more information about Diss TIC, call 01379 650523.