Glasgow’s St Enoch shopping centre recorded a 20% year-on-year rise in footfall during Christmas week as shoppers avoided the cold weather and chose to do their shopping under cover.

The centre also benefited from recent openings such as Cult and Trespass, and a Harvey Nichols Christmas store.

St Enoch general manager Susan Nicol said that at the beginning of December, when the weather was at its coldest, the increase in footfall was only “marginal” as consumers preferred to spend online.

That changed as the month progressed and on the busiest day, December 23, 125,000 shoppers visited the centre.

Because retailers in Scotland are not subject to the Sunday trading restrictions that apply in England, stores were able to open from 9am until 6pm on Boxing Day, when there were 79,000 visitors.

Nicol said: “With St Enoch being a covered scheme with extensive car parking, we’ve given shoppers the confidence to travel in to the city centre safe in the knowledge that they won’t be out in the elements.”