Trade in Exmouth in the run-up to Christmas has been hailed as a success.

Reflecting on the festive period, Ian MacQueen, chairman of Exmouth Chamber of Commerce, said that business in the town was ‘buoyant’ - and had been aided by the successful Christmas Cracker event in The Strand.

He also welcomed the opening of the seafront Rockfish restaurant, and added that there were exciting prospects ahead for 2017, including the opening of the Lympstone Manor hotel by celebrity chef Michael Caines.

Mr MacQueen said: “Trade in Exmouth was buoyant and was kicked off with the hugely successful Christmas Cracker event in early December, which seemed to act as the catalyst for retailers in Exmouth doing consistently well in the run-up to Christmas, since it was a good advertisement for just what Exmouth has to offer.

“There is no doubt that with the development of the seafront in the shape of Ocean and the Premier Inn, together with the very successful opening of Mitch Tonk’s Rockfish restaurant in December and the imminent arrival of Michael Caines in early 2017, Exmouth is really upping its game and, as such, retail benefits as more people want to come and see what is happening. It’s called positive progress!”