PAIGNTON Zoo has, for the second year running, set a new visitor record — and the customers are still arriving.

The breaching of the 500,000 mark for the second time has delighted zoo bosses and brought a £5million boost.

A zoo spokesman said: "We have officially broken our record for annual visitors.

"Last year was 507,068, we have passed that October 22 with a nine days to go to the finish of our the accounting year at the end of October.

"Despite the economic and meteorological gloom of 2008, Paignton Zoo has bucked the trend."

The zoo breached the 500,00 mark for the first time last summer.

It estimates each person pays out at least £10 to get into the zoo and in spending.

Matthew Clarke, deputy chairman of the town's chamber of commerce, who runs a bookshop in Torquay Road, said: "This success proves that if you provide value for money, good marketing and a quality product, then you will still get the customers.

"There will always been a spin-off from having those sort of numbers coming to the resort although it is difficult to quantify.

"The fact that more than 500,000 people are coming into the Bay means they will be spending in the town, at restaurants, hotels and petrol stations and that will have some impact on the residents who are employed in those businesses.

"Those people so employed, including those at the zoo, will be earning salaries which they will spend locally, so this record is good news all round."

When the zoo turnstiles stopped counting at the end of the financial year 12 months ago, they had clocked up another 26,212 visitors to set the new record, which was last broken four years ago.

The spokesman said: "Next year looks set to be much tougher but, on the other hand, people are always looking for great value and that's what Paignton Zoo offers.

"We are a great attraction in any weather and for a range of visitors. We offer excellent value for a full day out and do vital conservation work.

"We have quality of the grounds and enclosures and there is always something new to see. The £1.5million Crocodile Swamp, for example, opened this year.

"We have enthusiastic, hard-working and dedicated staff and volunteers, and the support of Devon people. We have 12,500 annual members, most of them local.

"As a charity we rely on our visitors for the income which keeps providing great facilities for both visitors and animals and allows us to do the conservation work at home and overseas."

The success of the previous record was put down to the birth of the black rhino calf Zuri and weather conditions which pushed visitors away from the beaches and into the attractions.

This year they believe the opening of the £1.5million Crocodile Swamp has boosted numbers.