A splendid display for Honiton Hot Pennies day

Honiton Hot Pennies had weather to match the coins, with it turning out to be a scorcher today (July 23).

Town crier, Dave Retter, initiated proceedings in the traditional manner with a crowd recital (see video), outside The Holt at midday.

From there a procession, including town dignitaries and townsfolk, made their way up the High Street, which is closed-off for the event.

Town Crier, Dave Retter, said: "It's always hot on Hot Pennies, but it's a wonderful day!

"It's what we do in Honiton. This is the 798th time it has happened, so we are now getting near to 800 years.

"Every year hundreds of pounds gets thrown out of the windows on the High Street.

"The Holt is the first stop this year. We now go on to The Volunteer - followed by Beviss and Beckingsale, which is the old Manor House.

"Then on to the Bed Expert, which was the old Pannier Market. Then the glove goes down at The Three Tons."

Deputy Mayor, Cllr Duncan Sheridan-Shaw, said: "Hot Pennies is a fantastic tradition which dates back hundreds of years.

"Thankfully it's changed a bit since it started, so it's not about humiliation and making the poor peasantry suffer.

"We've adapted it, as we do in Honiton. We've grown it and made it a bit more diverse and exciting."