more than 1,200 people have supported the bid to acquire the redundant ferry workshop at Shaldon for community use.

The building is up for sale by Teignbridge Council, and the local regatta committee want to buy it. Now the hard work of raising thousands of pounds has begun.

Writing in the current village newsletter, Ray Edworthy, from the regatta, revealed that support had also come from other Shaldon and Teignmouth organisations.

'All this shows emphatically that the population wants Shaldon Regatta to succeed with our bid.