THE man behind the musicals - composer Andrew Lloyd Webber - was a surprise visitor in Cumbria this week.

He has travelled the county this week stopping off in different towns and told one lady that he was “on holiday”.

Lloyd Webber, who is behind musicals such as Cats, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Phantom of the Opera, was first seen earlier in the week in Appleby and Kirkby Stephen.

He was also seen in Pooley Bridge on Tuesday where he stopped off at the Chestnut House shop for a bottle of Cumberland Saucy Gin.

News of his travels across the county hit social media.

Darren Philip Todd said: “He has been in Chestnut House for a bottle of Cumberland saucy gin on Tuesday.”

He was also seen in the recently refurbished Crown Inn in the picturesque Lakeland village where Michelle Coggins said: “He popped into the Crown Inn for a pot of tea.”

He was also spotted in Brampton and then in Carlisle where he visited Tullie House Museum and the Cakes and Ale cafe on Long Lane.

Caitlin Olney, marketing manager at Tullie House, said: “We believe that he visited but we are unsure of the reason.

“He only spoke briefly to the front desk staff.”

Sally-anne Budd said she saw him in the museum.

“He walked by the community room I was teaching in,” she said.

Lloyd Webber, who is famous for his musicals including Cats, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Phantom of the Opera, was also seen in the west of the county.

He was spotted in the Old Kings Arms Lane on Main Street in Cockermouth.

And there were also sightings of him in Whitehaven.

Tracey Casson Crellen said: “ I saw him in Whitehaven at St James Church.”

The News & Star contacted Mr Lloyd Webber’s publicist but she was unavailable for comment.