Positive figures hailed as city bucks national festive trends

Preston bucked national high street trends with rising footfall and falling crime over the festive period, figures show.

- by Sean Gleaves

The numbers show the city defied the national picture during Christmas, with footfall up by almost three per cent at a time when many city centres across the UK saw declines.

At the same time, police data recorded a 19 per cent fall in shoplifting and a nine per cent reduction in antisocial behaviour compared with the previous year.

The performance has been hailed as evidence that more people are choosing Preston as a place to shop, socialise and spend time.