THE Budleigh Salterton rumour mill swung into overdrive on Tuesday when word went around the Longboat Cafe was being demolished.

THE Budleigh Salterton rumour mill swung into overdrive on Tuesday when word went around the Longboat Cafe was being demolished.

When the cafe was cordoned off and a skip moved in, many residents believed work was in progress to pull down the building to make way for the proposed controversial new glass-fronted restaurant development.

Longboat co-owner Jane Hushon said the cafe was closed for the day while essential repairs were carried out.

Mrs Hushon said: "This happens every year. We had to do some remedial work.

"We have an on-going problem with water and damp going into the building.

"We checked with our agent and, as owners, we are well within our rights to do the building work to keep the cafe watertight for the winter.