Saffron pounds were flowing into the tills of Ulverston traders this week as 3,700 Buddhists turned out for the annual summer festival, reports Jennie Dennett.

While materialism is certainly not the byword for Buddhism, that did not stop visitors to the huge event at the town's Manjushri Buddhist Centre stocking up on a few items.

Eateries, book shops and clothes stores all reported elevated sales thanks to the influx of the robed visitors for the two-week fixture which began on Friday.

"We have had a lot more business, especially for cream cakes," reported Fiona Nevinson, of Market Street's Thomas Bakery. "It's a good thing for Ulverston."

It was a similar story at Dunnings Chocolate Shop over the road. "It's been brilliant, we were really, really busy and run off our feet on Friday and Saturday," said Natalie Scholes.

Meanwhile, Ulverston Tourist Information Centre said there were no rooms left at any inns.

"Ulverston is fully booked so we're sending a few to Barrow," said TIC assistant Amanda Foy.

"This time we're also doing more route planning for people having days out in the Lakes. The festival is a great thing for the area and they're lovely people."

At the festival itself, at Conishead Priory, Buddhists from as many as 50 different nations gathered to hear teachings from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche the spiritual director of the New Kadampa Tradition of Buddhism who has been resident at the Manjushri Centre since 1977.

Festival regulars Kelsang Opel and Kelsang Longku said they were drawn to the Manjushri to hear inspirational teachings, recharge the batteries and meet Buddhist friends.

"It's a spiritual holiday," said 68-year-old Longku, who travelled from Wisconsin, USA, to be there. "Geshe is the guru of all the teachings you read. This is more contemporaneous than the books and more laid back."

Festival secretary Jim Belither said the 13th summer festival was going well, with a few hundred more visitors than last year. He was also pleased to see festival-goers venturing into Ulverston.

"There is, or has been, a perception of the centre as something a bit odd on the outskirts of town. I suspect now, especially from the local government side, they see an economic value in the place. The local shopkeepers benefit, it helps the local economy and helps us because we are part of that economy."