A week of fun and fundraising begins in Budleigh Salterton on Saturday, May 27.

Gala Week, organised by the Lions Club, starts with the Cancer Research UK Big Breakfast in the Public Hall and the Fete on the Green, and finishes on Sunday, June 4 with a treasure hunt and a quiz in The Feathers pub.

Lions president Richard Allen said: "We are all very excited about Gala Week and we hope you are too! 

“One of my favourite events during Gala Week has to be the Pebble Building competition. There’s always such a lovely atmosphere and it's great to see so many visitors to Budleigh taking part, as well as local families." 

The competition is held on the beach on Monday, May 29, starting at 10am. The entry fee is £1 per person and there are 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes for the tallest freestanding castle and the best design. 

During the week there will also be the children's Pavement Artist Competition, a barn dance, the dog show, the art exhibition, the Hospiscare Coffee Morning, a Horse Racing evening, a Retro Games afternoon in Knowle Village Hall and the return of 'Pudding Night'.  

The Gala Week programme, with full details of the events and the entry form for the famous ‘Spot the Stranger’ competition, is available for £1 in many local shops including the village stores in East Budleigh and Otterton.

Richard added: "As usual a tremendous amount of work has gone into organising Gala Week and I would like to thank in particular Lions Geoff Paver and our Activities Chairman Lion Gavin March.

“I would also like to thank all the members of Budleigh Salterton Lions Club who will be helping out at many of the events over the course of the week. 

“I must also thank Nia James, who in her own time has very kindly designed our new look Gala Week programme. I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of all the members of our Club, to say thank you to everyone who donates to our appeals, buys our raffle tickets and attends our events and to all the local businesses who support us. If we didn't have the support of our local community we wouldn't be able to do what we do, your continued support is greatly appreciated."