SOMERSET is ‘still open for business’ despite weeks of flooding in parts of the county which has seen people evacuated from their homes.

Burnham business owners are spreading the message that the town, which has escaped the worst of the extreme weather, is still welcoming tourists.

The campaign stresses that the tourist industry is still in need of support, even after the battering the South West has taken from torrential downpours and strong winds.

James Heappey, prospective Conservative candidate for Burnham, said:

“The flooding has been awful and will have cost Somerset many millions of pounds already.

“But the financial impact of the floods could be so much worse if we don’t get behind our local tourist industry and shout as loudly as we can that we’re open for business and that our county needs people’s support.

“We’re encouraging local businesses to offer deals to get people down here and supporting our weather-beaten economy.

“Local residents can help by supporting the campaign on social media with the hash tags #OpenForBusiness and #SupportSomerset.”

Burnham mayor Martin Cox said: “People have seen the floods on TV so they’ve been calling to ask whether the town is still open and if they should still come down here for their holiday.

“We’re saying ‘absolutely; there’s loads to do – both indoors and out – and a really warm welcome awaits.

Burnham cllr and Pavilion owner Louise Parkin said: “We had an appalling 2012, a slightly better 2013 and now we are having an incredibly wet 2014.

“We are okay here and we are still open for business – come down and show your support.”