WORCESTER'S shops are celebrating a booming summer - with data revealing how thousands more people are pouring into the city centre to buck national trends.

Findings for June and July reveal how footfall has increased as much as 5.7 per cent year-on-year at its peak, meaning shopper numbers surged by a total of 64,186 across the two months.

The results not only outstrip the rest of the country but are better, on average, than areas deemed to be similar to Worcester, providing a major boost to the city's High Street.

Only one week saw a slight annual decline in shopper numbers, starting from Sunday, July 26 where it was down 0.5 per cent - but every other seven-day period saw significant rises.

The week starting Sunday, July 5 it actually rose 5.7 per cent, resulting in 28,000 extra shoppers being clocked during the seven days.

Shoppers numbers overall were up 2.3 per cent in June and 2.1 per cent in July, making a mockery of national trends where footfall data actually dropped in both months.

The findings have buoyed retailers, who say they are hoping the city continues to outperform the rest.

It also follows months of strong occupancy rates, with just 13 per cent of 732 units empty during a count earlier this year, second only to Solihull in the West Midlands.

Shop owner Tim Evans, who runs Toys & Games of Worcester, in Broad Street, said: "Last year we were actually 12 per cent up (year-on-year) and I'd have been happy if we'd have held onto that massive rise, but we're six per cent up on that.

"We're having another good year, to run at where we're at, we are happy.

"We're definitely buoyed by it, Worcester is a strong city which always seems to be above the national norm."

Yasmin Fard, who runs 23 Knots in the High Street, an independent clothing, art, homeware and accessories shop, said: "In general it's been good - last year we had The Three Choirs in town and it was heaving, but I can't complain.

"Overall it's been going well."

Nadja von Dahlen, from Worcester's Business Improvement District (BID), which represents city centre retailers and businesses, said: "I think the economic uplift has helped, we've seen quite a few new openings in the city centre.

"But there is an attraction to Worcester, it's becoming more aspirational and I think that's reflected in it."

Data gathered among rival cities shows how June saw footfall decline minus 1.7 per cent, while July was also down at minus 0.6 per cent.

It follows warnings that Britain's High Streets are enduring their worst summer periods since 2008, with many experts blaming the internet, inconsistent weather and uncertainty over interest rates.

Worcester's findings were collated by Experian Footfall, an outside consultancy, for the BID.

Shoppers are clocked by counters in Broad Street, Pump Street and two in the High Street, outside Dorothy Perkins and Marks & Spencer.

There is also hope the Worcester Foodie Festival will result in excellent August figures.