Hazel Bustin, of West Charleton, Kingsbridge, writes:

Would someone please explain to the editor the effect of last week's front-page headline 'Relax! It's just another sodden summer'.

In her article, Amy McSweeny says that 'long-term residents ... had never seen anything like it before' and quotes a resident saying 'I've never known it quite this bad'.

So the suggestion in the headline that the extreme rainfall and localised flooding are usual for the South Hams during the summer is incorrect.

And perhaps the editor would take a moment to consider how irresponsible it is to suggest that we usually have weather like this, in an area which relies so heavily on tourism.

Many businesses and jobs in the area are largely reliant on the influx of tourists into the area. And many local businesses are working hard to encourage people to part with their hard-earned money to come and stay in the stunning South Hams for their holidays.

So far in 2012 we have been up against an early Easter; the 'let's stay home for Whitsun school holidays'; jubilee weekend; European football; the prolonged spell of inclement weather; and we still have the Olympics to come – all at a time when the economic climate in the UK was going to make it a challenging year.

I wonder if you know how many copies of the paper are bought by holidaymakers, or accommodation suppliers on the behalf of incoming holidaymakers? Or how many of the advertisers have businesses which rely on revenues from tourism?

Perhaps a front page photograph of local people helping each other, showing a 'Dunkirk spirit' would have been a better idea.