BUDLEIGH Salterton Gala Week this year proved so popular that all the organisations taking part have already booked their places for the 2010 event.

BUDLEIGH Salterton Gala Week this year proved so popular that all the organisations taking part have already booked their places for the 2010 event.

The final few days of Gala Week were a whirlwind of entertainment as hundreds flocked to the town to drink in every last drop of family fun.

Gala week chairman Geoff Paver said the cash raised from the event for local charities and organisations, stood at around �13,000 - slightly down on last year's total.

Mr Paver said events held in the Public Hall attracted lower visitor numbers than usual, saying the warm weather encouraged the crowds outside.

The pebble competition, held on Budleigh beach, proved popular with scores of holidaymakers taking part.

Mr Paver said: "It's been a wonderful week. The weather has been fine and there were crowds of people. The charities and organisations raised between �12,000 and �13,000. It's down on other years, but it's to be expected in the economic downturn - it's only down by a couple of thousand pounds.

"We didn't sell half the number of programmes that we normally do.

"The week was absolutely brilliant and the atmosphere was superb. I think all the organisations have booked to take part next year.

"The Carnival Club did a wonderful job with the king and queen competition."

The Police Community Support Officer cycle competition, at St Peter's School, was the only event to suffer any rain - but the youngsters taking part refused to let the wet weather dampen their spirits.

The jam-packed week of entertainment continued until Sunday with keen cooks lined up to sample the special cooking skills of two local chefs.

The Public Hall was turned into a kitchen when Graham Edwards, of The Sir Walter Raleigh, in East Budleigh, and Raj, of the Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant, in Budleigh Salterton, both held cookery demonstrations.

Visitors also tried their hand for free at the game of bowls when Budleigh Salterton Games Club threw open its doors.

Circus Berzercus played to a packed house of parents and children at the Public Hall, showing off skills such as mad mono-cycling and tragic magic.