BUDLEIGH Salterton's traders have been cashing in on the fine weather and town's Gala Week, reporting increased profits.

BUDLEIGH Salterton's traders have been cashing in on the fine weather and town's Gala Week, reporting increased profits.Recently, many traders believed they faced a bleak summer trying to catch up on lost revenue after months of road works caused misery throughout the town - leaving motorists baffled by confusing diversions, and boycotting Budleigh.The combination of the scorching bank holiday weather and the Lions' Club annual Gala Week has resulted in a rise in profits as holidaymakers and visitors have flashed the cash in Budleigh.Alan Tilbury, chairman of the town's chamber of commerce, said the local economy had increased in the last six days.He said trade in the High Street had been steady, with holidaymakers also choosing to eat and drink in the town.Mr Tilbury said: "It's been wonderful. We have had people over from Sandy Bay. The traders are really pleased, especially the eating establishments."Trader Steve Hall, from Card Shop Too, said the bank holiday weekend trade wiped out any effects of the downturn caused by the road works.He said: "I've seen a huge difference. I don't know whether it's the downturn of the economy, so people are choosing to stay at home, or the fantastic weather, but we are 20 per cent up."I have come across German and French people in the shop, so there are foreign visitors here."Threshers manager Paula Leblanc said: "There are a lot of people about, which is positive. There are a lot of different faces about, as well as regular customers." l VANDALS tried in vain to put a dampener on Gala Week when tables, left on The Green overnight, were broken and hurled into trees,Gala Week chairman, Lion Geoff Paver said: "Three tables left on The Green overnight for Saturday, were broken. "The others were pushed around and some were up in the trees. "We had to get up into the trees to get them down. "You don't expect that to happen when you are working for charity.