VISITOR numbers were up by three per cent at The Mall shopping centre in Southampton, bucking the trend of a tough Christmas on the high street.

Andrew Davy, general manager, for The Mall said: "This figure bodes well for 2008. The increase in footfall means that retailers had potential to attract more shoppers into their individual stores which is great for them."

The Mall, part of a national chain of 23 UK shopping centres, is home to 45 stores, including Matalan and the Disney Store.

Rival Southampton centre WestQuay also reported a bumper Christmas, with shopper numbers up 22 per cent in December.