SALCOMBE’S inaugural Crabfest raised more than £10,000 for local charities, including £3,800 to the Young Person’s Centre.

Crabfest, held on Sunday, May 1, saw 3,000 visitors flock to Salcombe on a usually quiet bank holiday weekend. All the money raised by Salcombe Crabfest will be donated to a number of local charities including The Salcombe Young Centre, Fishermen’s Mission, Fish Quay Defibrillator Fund, KM United youth football club and the Devon Air Ambulance night landing survey.

Crabfest was a chance for visitors to get up close and personal with over 40 exhibitors and celebrate crab and all things seafood. Crabfest was organised by The Rotary Club of Salcombe and sponsored by two award-winning businesses, Favis of Salcombe and Coast and Country Cottages.  Organiser, John Sampson of The Rotary Club of Salcombe, said: ‘We would like to thank everyone who joined us at Salcombe Crabfest including visitors, exhibitors, sponsors, patrons and our team of volunteers, who all helped make the day very special.

‘We are absolutely delighted by the reaction of everyone who was there and the feedback we have received since has been amazing. Importantly we have raised valuable funds for really worthy charities within our local community. We are already planning next year’s event on Sunday, April 30, and we hope to put on another great event for Salcombe.’

Peter Ralph presented a cheque for £3800 to Hazel Burkett of The Young Persons Centre in Salcombe to enable them to carry out essential works and to create a safe outside play area for the children.

Fellow organiser John Sampson and Peter Betteridge from the Rotary Club of Salcombe attended along with the main sponsors of Crabfest, Favis of Salcombe and Coast and Country Cottages.