A BUSINESS in West Dorset has found an inventive way to capitalise on the Broadchurch effect – hiring out Rickshaw Riders.

Launched by Caroline Richards, manager of the Hive Beach Cafe in Burton Bradstock, the service is a complimentary service offered by the cafe.

A rickshaw is a three-wheeled passenger cart, usually operated by one man pedalling and can transport up to three passengers at a time.

The rickshaws are free with passengers encouraged to tip the riders, and can be hailed in the same way as a traditional London taxi.

The riders of the rickshaws will act as tour guides and will take the passengers on a tour of filming spots for the smash-hit ITV show, and to other places along the Jurassic Coast around Bridport and West Bay as well as offering them safety tips regarding the unstable cliffs and fossil hunting.

Caroline Richards, from the Hive Beach Cafe, said: “The season is coming to an end now but there was a bit of interest.

“We were quite pleased with the response to it really, the whole idea was to promote the watch house and the area. Considering it was the first year it was good.”

Fans of Broadchurch – known as Broadies – have flocked to West Bay to see the iconic cliffs and the locations around the town and the influx of fans of the show, which stars David Tennant and Olivia Colman, has led to a boom for local businesses.

The cast and the crew of the show have just left the town after filming for two weeks for the second series, and are scheduled to return some point in September to wrap up the show which looks set to be aired in 2015.

Mrs Richards said the Rickshaws should return next year.

She added: “We think we are going to bring them back next year.

“We will have to see how it goes and if we can get people to operate them, but there will hopefully be more fans of the show here next year.”