COMPENSATION claims are being made by Teignmouth traders who say their business was seriously affected by the weekend's pollution scare.

Despite holidaymakers flocking back to the beaches at Teignmouth and Shaldon after the all-clear was given on Sunday, the town's chamber of commerce president believes that the effects will continue.

Phillip Heesam, franchise holder for the ice cream van on the sea front for 18 years, said that his trade was 'killed dead' at the weekend, the first weekend in a month when he can expect to make 65 per cent of his annual income.

Mr Heesam said: 'It killed us dead as a town.'

He said: 'Adverse national coverage of the spill will keep people away from the resort. Relatives have said that they will not come down until they are sure everything has properly cleared away.

'The knock-on effect could take weeks before people come back to the beaches with confidence.'

South West Water has confirmed that it will consider any claims for losses incurred on what would normally be one of the busiest weekends of the year.

But the good weather has continued to attract holidaymakers to the resort and accommodation is becoming scarce.

A spokesman for Teignmouth Tourist Information centre said: 'We have had enquires from all over the country from other TICS for accommodation that is becoming a premium.

'The pollution scare did affect Sunday because there was no-one around on the beaches, but I feel that everything is back to normal.'

Bob Bailey, chairman of the hotel and catering association, said: 'Hotels seem to be doing very good business considering the upset at the weekend – it has not seemed to affect accommodation, but it has upset catering outlets.'

Mr Bailey said that a volatile situation abroad had kept people holidaying at home, adding that an all-weather attraction would be an asset for Teignbridge: 'We could really do with something of our own because we do not have anything to keep people in the area apart from our fantastic beaches and restaurants.'

The pollution scare began when an underground pipe ruptured at Bishopsteignton on Friday evening.

The burst was repaired early on Saturday but tourism officers took the precaution of closing the popular beaches.

Michelle Kenney, for Teignbridge council, said: 'We took the belt and braces approach in warning the public and as soon as we had news that the water was up to scratch, people were invited to go back in.'

The environment agency will continue to monitor the water and is investigating the cause of the incident.

Hilary Weatherley, corporate communications manager for South West Water, said the underground leak was not due to 'negligence or operational neglect'.

He said: 'We are obviously upset that we had a burst but they do happen.

'We are pleased that the repair was carried out quickly to minimise damage.'

Cllr Gordon Hook, Teignbridge portfolio holder for the environment, is calling for a full report of the incident to be heard at the council's next executive meeting.

Cllr Hook said: 'Why did it take 14 hours to stop the sewage going into the estuary, what guarantee do we have that it will not happen again and is there in place an alarm system if Teignmouth's waste does not reach Buckland sewage works?

'I have no problem with South West Water for the problem occurring but it is how they reacted to that problem.

'My sympathy is with the traders and the holidaymakers who lost time in the water.'