BUSINESSES in Burnham-on-Sea were given a financial boost over the Easter weekend as the streets were filled with tourists.

Vice chairman of Burnham Chamber of Trade, Alex Turco, said the town centre’s footfall monitors recorded the second best week of footfall during the period from April 10 to 16 since it was installed last year.

Mr Turco said: “I have had good reports from shop and hotel owners who have reported that trade has been steady throughout the Easter period.

“There were 12 coaches in the coach park on Easter Monday which could transport more than 400 passengers.

“There have also been a great number of entries to the Chamber of Trade’s ‘Spot the Odd Item in the window’ competition and it has attracted a lot of attention from residents and visitors.

“I hope this continues into the summer months.”

These positive trade figures show the town has bucked the national trend.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that in the first quarter there has been a 1.4 per cent drop in the amount of retail sales nationally.

Ian Jefferies, tourism manager for Burnham-on-Sea and director of Visit by Coach, said the summer season had started well in the town.

“We have had a good start to the season at the coach station and I have had a lot of positive feedback from businesses in Burnham that trade has been good over Easter,” he said.

“I am hopeful that the weather will be good throughout the summer period as when the weather is nicer more people want to come to Burnham and spend a day at the seaside. I am optimistic that this good trend will continue.”