FOOTFALL in a busy Salisbury shopping centre is rising, bucking national trends.

The latest figures from the city’s Old George Mall show that, for the fifth consecutive month, the number of shoppers is up, year-on-year.

July figures were up more than 10,000 to a year high of 428,361– about the population of Manchester. And August saw 423,615, more than 6,000 ahead of the 2014 numbers.

June was also up more than 6,000 on 2014, with 388,492.

This follows encouraging figures at the mall for May, when numbers were at 388,787, more than 15,000 up, an increase of 4.1 per cent and this followed a 0.5 per cent increase of 2,002 to 369,157 in April.

The average increase for the five months is more than two per cent compared to UK figures where there was a near three per cent fall.

The boost is down to major investment and the arrival of a number of prestigious new stores.

In the last 18 months, jewellers Pandora and Warren James, kitchenware store Lakeland and coffee shop Pret à Manger have arrived.

Centre manager Jon Osgood said: “The footfall figures are very encouraging and so is the interest in the units here at the shopping centre and this is down to the commitment to improving the centre which has been shown over the past two years.

“There has been considerable investment, more than £250,000, in the infrastructure and upgraded maintenance of Old George Mall and that has been vital in attracting major new business. That’s important for the mall and also for the city, because it brings new jobs and increased prosperity at a time when high streets across the UK are finding it hard.”

More than 4.6 million shoppers spend £250million pounds a year at the centre, which employs more than 500 staff in its 34 stores, paying £8million in wages.

In the last 18 months, H&M, Schuh, Warren James, Nationwide Building Society, Card Factory and Vodafone have all opened in the Mall, while Café Rouge had a major refit and rebrand.

Karli Smith, manager of new arrivals Warren James jewellers, said business was growing and the branch was looking to hire part-time staff. Mr Osgood said: “Salisbury is a destination city that people want to come and visit and one that has a rich and varied retail offer and the arrival of new businesses here at the mall has to be good news for Salisbury and its city centre and we’re pleased to have played our part by investing in our retail infrastructure.

“The shopping centre has been a major success in a difficult time for the retail industry.