Airshow weekend 'brings £5m boost' to Torbay trade

Business leaders believe this year's English Riviera Airshow has brought in millions of pounds of trade to the area.

The third and final day of the event took place on Sunday, with aircraft including the Red Arrows and RAF Typhoon Display Team taking to the skies above Paignton Green.

Thousands of people have attended the free event during the three days it has been on, which has helped bring at least £5m of trade to Torbay, according to English Riviera Business Improvement District chief executive Carolyn Custerson.

She said the financial boost the event had given the area meant it was in a "good position" for the future.

Ms Custerson said: "The airshow is going to be worth at least £5m to Torbay's visitor economy and we see a great return on investment.

"For every pound we invest, we see £15 returned.

"So we've got now in a good position to take the event forward."

Traders who set up stalls at the airshow said it had been a "phenomenal" weekend with the large crowds attending.

James Guthrie, from Torbay Gin, said: "We did strong sales on Saturday and the crowds were just wooed by the Red Arrows and the Typhoon that came in.

"It was a great day for business."

Councillor Jackie Thomas, cabinet member for tourism, culture and events at Torbay Council, said holding such an event when other airshows, such as Bournemouth and Teignmouth, were either not happening or unlikely to happen this year due to funding issues was a big boost.

"We have managed to keep going and you can see what a spectacular event that we have produced," she added.

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