General Discussion

23:00 - 26-August-2008

DEVON firms depending on last-minute summer custom found themselves wondering where exactly all the visitors had gone as they were left deserted during a cloudy bank holiday.

Those joining the getaway to the South West for this year's last public holiday seemingly bypassed beaches, shops and some tourist attractions yesterday — leaving those who witnessed heavy traffic when families arrived in the region on Friday puzzled.

The good news for businesses hoping to make the most of the rest of school holidays is this week is set to be dull but bright at times, with only a slight chance of rain.

The maximum temperature today is set to be 21C.

The popular beach at Dawlish Warren was busy throughout the weekend, but Simon Broom, who runs the nearby Warren Trading Company shop, said it hadn't been as packed as usual.

"We are hoping the last week of the school holidays will be good, though," he said.

"The fireworks here on Sunday night are hopefully a good start. There have been lots of people but not as many as we were expecting this bank holiday.

"There seems to be the same amount of people staying here but not so many day trippers."

Even the wet weather standby option of visiting a National Trust house seems not to have appealed to many yesterday.

Killerton, near Broadclyst, has had slightly fewer visitors this summer compared to last year and staff are organising plenty of events in the next two weeks to entice people there.

Yesterday there was a Punch and Judy show, tomorrow there will be a teddy bear hunt and later in the week a 'Tree-mendous' story-telling session about the estate's exotic plants, including the first ever giant redwood tree in the UK.

The first week of September is Heritage Week.

Jen Waldron, visitor services officer, said: "I think our slight drop in visitor numbers could be because of the credit crunch but overall we are holding up pretty well.

"If it's wet weather we are carrying on with events. It's not going to stop us."

The shops have been a refuge for visitors during the wet weather but people stayed away from spending cash in Exeter yesterday.