BARGAIN hunters flocking to Bolton shops have lifted traders' gloom after poor Christmas spending figures.

High street traders across the town said the tills failed to ring during the run up to Christmas.

But Bolton shoppers have been quick to part with their cash in the January Sales.

Bolton Market Place Shopping Centre manager Rod Neasham said footfall - the word retailers use for the numbers passing through the doors - had been the highest during the post Christmas period for years.

Mr Neasham said: "People have got a bit fed up with The Trafford Centre and realise what good offers there are in Bolton.

Difficult

"Because of the Trafford Centre we were experiencing a reduction in footfall each week but we are now equalling last year and probably bettering it."

He said the Christmas period overall was very "difficult" for shops.

Mr Neasham said shoppers had held on to their money, spending at the very last minute and boosting figures in the last few days before Christmas Day.

He added: "But as far as the Sales are concerned, it's very good."

Industry experts had predicted the worst Christmas High Street spending for 20 years.

But Bolton traders said the experts only got it half right, with poor figures for November and the first part of December.

Kevin O'Gorman, manager of Bolton's Crompton Place, said: "In broad terms December trading at Crompton Place was a slow start but the last two weeks were exceptionally busy.

"A number of stores made up the deficit for the full year in the last three weeks of Christmas, including the first week of the sales.

"Overall it could even be classed as a good Christmas for some of our retailers."

Mr O'Gorman added that bargain hunters would still find plenty of offers until the end of January as sales were set to continue for another few weeks while retailers got rid of large amounts of unsold stock.

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