TEIGNMOUTH is bucking the national trend, with fewer closed shops and offices than most other towns in the country.

A delighted Emma Kay, the town centre manager, reckons there are only a handful of empty units, and believes most of those will soon be occupied.

Other buildings have new tenants signed up, or are being refurbished.

She estimates that only about four per cent of shops are empty, compared with a national average of around 12.5 per cent.

'It is great news – Teignmouth is now really on the up. There is a lot of interest from national traders in the town, especially after the arrival of Waitrose, Costa, M&Co and Morrisons.