TRADERS in Teignmouth have paid their respects to a fellow businessman who died after being found in the River Teign.

A major rescue operation swung into action after carpet shop owner Steve Hall was seen floating in the water near the town docks last Thursday afternoon.

Paramedics, police, coastguards and a lifeboat crew were involved in recovering Mr Hall, 63, who ran the Teignmouth Carpet Centre in Northumberland Place.

He was flown by Devon Air Ambulance to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Some 20 traders from around the town gathered outside his premises on Saturday to pay tribute to their much-misssed business ally.

The Rev Catherine Wagstaff, minister at the nearby Methodist Church, said a few words of reflection while floral tributes were laid outside the shop.

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