Sales show 11 per cent rise
Like-for-like retail sales over Christmas in central London increased 11 per cent, against the previous year, according to figures from the British Retail Consortium's London Retail Sales Monitor.

However, footfall was down, indicating that shoppers made fewer shopping trips and bought more when doing so.

Visitor numbers - particularly from Russia and other European countries - were higher than in 2005/2006 and pre-Christmas discounting and colder weather contributed to a positive result for clothing and footwear retailers.

Accessories and beauty products also sold well, but homewares and furniture were mixed.