SOARING temperatures and blazing sunshine for almost two weeks have sparked a boost to many businesses in the Tavistock area.
Colin Durrant, deputy manager at Somerfield in Tavistock, said: ?It?s been fantastic. Things like water fly off the shelves, it?s about a 300-400% increase and cooked chickens, believe it or not. In this hot weather we can?t get enough of them.?
Mr Durrant said predictably, beer, soft drinks, salads and ice-cream are in great demand. On Saturday, a delivery of 4,000 ice cubes had been snapped up by customers within an hour of the store opening.
Safeway was forced to close for an hour last Friday, when the heat caused a power cut in the store.
With temperatures in excess of 100 degrees, back-up chillers, which run on a separate system, were brought in and regular checks on food temperatures were carried out.
Store manager Mark Carter apologised for any inconvenience caused to customers. Despite this the store had a busy weekend ? top three products sold were raspberries, strawberries and cola style soft drinks.
Tavistock Pannier################################################################# Market is booming, although market reeve Eddie Carruthers is staying close to his electric fan and says traders would love air conditioning in the market.
He said: ?Market tills are up, but we have had a couple of stalls pack up early. When people go to the beach it?s too hot to sit there, so they are coming back and into the market. It is warm here, but there?s a bit of a through breeze.?
Rod Prouse, assistant manager at Meadowlands in Tavistock, said normally, hot weather meant a dip in numbers at the pool, as people sought out beaches and the moors.
?Suprisingly that doesn?t seem to have happened ? we?ve been quite busy,? said Mr Prouse.
National Trust properties Buckland Abbey and Lydford Gorge are proving popular as ever, with figures comparing favourably with last August.
The Abbey has been busier than they would expect in such high temperatures, and the Medieval Free Company, who entertained visitors at the weekend, really stuggledwith the heat on Saturday in their authentic, layered costumes.
Lydford Gorge has seen high visitor numbers flocking to the leafy shade and cool water attraction.
Morwellham Quay has claimed the title of ?coolest place in Devon? for itself. The temperature in the Quay?s George and Charlotte mine is a constant 11 degrees and according to mine manager Bob Le Marchant is proving very popular with the drivers.
?They can?t wait to get down there and the heat really hits you like a wall when you come back out.?
James Langton, landlord at the Plume of Feathers in Princetown, said the hot weather was ?fabulous for the region? ? but was proving too hot for the walkers and mountain bikers who normally flock to the pub.
?They?re just melting,? he said.
Irene Williamson, owner of Harford Bridge Park at Peter Tavy, said she had ?lots of happy campers? ? but giving them all a pitch by the River Tavy, which runs through the park, was proving difficult logistically.
?I need a longer river bank!? she said.
Far from putting off housebuyers, the heatwave seems to have kept the town?s estate agents running from viewing to viewing.
Kathryn Williams of Milton Abbot-based Willy?s Ice Cream said: ?We?re definitely moving now .
?It?s lovely to have a continuous spell of hot weather, it?s great from the organisational point of view, when you can put all your vehicles out and know you are going to get good returns.?
Rene Chambers of Hall Manor at Kelly, near Lifton, said sales of their bottled spring water had leapt during the hot weather.
The heatwave has been a boost to the business, started 18 months ago when the farm diversified following the foot and mouth crisis.
Water levels at Roadford, Meldon and Burrator stand at 75%, 83% and 98% respectively. South West Water spokesman Stephen Swain said: ?Considering the weather, it?s very good.?