'We make all our money in the next six weeks'

Tourism businesses across Devon and Cornwall have been preparing for the summer holidays, the busiest part of their year, already hopeful of a good season after a sustained spell of warm weather. Some are also mindful of rising costs, and the financial strain on families wrestling with cost of living pressures.

"From now, it's just go, go go."

Esther Lochrie runs the café, car park, and beach hut hire at Swanpool beach near Falmouth in Cornwall.

She feels ready for the school holidays and is hopeful of a good summer especially if the "amazing" weather continues.

"We are primed, we are ready to go," she says while accepting "it's a tricky time for businesses", giving rising staff costs as a particular challenge.

"This is the six weeks that underpins everything for the rest of the year. We make all our money in the next six weeks, so it's absolutely crucial".

Just a little further along on the beach, Tom Payne of Swanpool Kayak Hire says he is also "optimistic", whilst being very aware of rising costs.

"I'm very mindful that Cornwall isn't the cheapest holiday for people when they come down.

"I'm mindful to keep my prices as low as I can, so that it is still affordable for people to come out and hire a kayak with the family.

"That's what Cornwall is all about in the summer, making memories with your family on the beach".

Visit Devon estimates tourism is worth about £2.5bn to the county's economy each year.

Visit Cornwall, which went into administration last year, had previously said that figure was about £2bn.

Following a series of heatwaves in recent months and "prolonged dry weather" in Devon and Cornwall, some visitors have already been attracted to the region before the school summer holidays have started.

Meanwhile, a report on the UK's climate from the Met Office said extreme weather is becoming the "new normal".

Lochrie says she is hopeful the weather and the cost of travelling overseas could lead to a staycation boom.

"Let's hope people vote with their feet and come to Cornwall."

About 100 miles away in Exmouth, Devon Nicola Foster from Coventry is playing with her children on the beach.

"When you've got the weather, I don't think there's anywhere like England," she says.

"We've been on this beach in July in raincoats before. But now, we're just on the beach all day", adds husband Nick Foster.

"It's absolutely brilliant."

"It's a really important time for us" says Alastair Franks of Oakdown Holiday Park near Sidmouth, which has holiday lodges, glamping pods and touring and camping pitches.

"If we get good occupancy over summer, it will be 50 percent of our year.

"Cost of living has affected whether people can afford to go on holiday but our industry does offer a cheaper alternative on accommodation, so we've got the best opportunity to make the most of that."

At the Donkey Sanctuary near Sidmouth, Ben Winnard says "summer is the most important time of the year for us".

The charity has more than 400,000 visitors a year and welcomes around 3,000 a day during the summer.

Although footfall so far this year has been down by about 5%, Winnard also hopes the charity will benefit from a boom in staycations.

"It feels like people are more likely to be be staying in the UK, we're very positive that this will end up being a good year for us.

"Weather like this is perfect for coming to see the donkeys."

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.