Traders buoyed by Broads link and balmy weather

Thomas and David Hayward, part owners of Sportstore in Beccles, say better summer conditions and close links to the Broads National Park have boosted trade

Traders have welcomed recent good weather and close links to waterways for boosting business over the summer after a difficult start to the season.

Retailers in Beccles in Suffolk have been cheered by balmy weather, the town's proximity to the Broads National Park and the outdoor swimming pool.

They said increased sales of paddleboards, swimming-related items, outdoor toys and inflatables had been a welcome boost to trade after a wet and cool spring and early summer.

The town's charity-run lido saw its visitor numbers cut in half because of the unseasonably poor weather earlier in the year, but managers said swimmers had been flocking to the site since July.

Dan Lovett, manager of the Toy Box in Beccles, is pleased with how the summer trade has been and says outdoor games and paddling pools have been selling well

David Hayward, part owner of Sportstore in Beccles, said: "Sales of paddleboards this summer have been really good especially from the start of July when the weather turned better.

"It's great to see so many paddleboarders going up the river from Beccles to Geldeston and it's definitely one of the nicest stretches of the Broads.

"Running shoes and tennis rackets have also been selling well and we're seeing more and more visitors coming back to the store and when people come to Beccles, they generally want to return."

Dan Lovett, manager of the Toy Box in Beccles, said: "We've had a really good summer and we are lucky to be on the edge of the Broads which has brought a lot of tourists to shop in the town.

"In the toy industry we do rely on good weather to sell paddling pools, outdoor games and sandpits because if we don't shift them then we have to put them in storage again for the next season."

Mr Lovett also said the Beccles Lido had also helped his trade this summer by increasing the demand for beach balls and inflatable toys.

The outdoor swimming pool relies on the summer trade but said downpours and low temperatures at the start of the season had had a "big impact".

However in recent weeks managers said visitor numbers had increased as temperatures started to rise.

Traders in Beccles say a warmer end to the summer and the town's proximity to the Broads National Park has helped to boost trade in recent weeks