Sun and terror spell misery for regional malls

Bomb alerts and soaring temperatures savaged footfall in regional shopping centres last weekend.

According to shopper traffic monitor SPSL, footfall plummeted 22.9 per cent on Saturday and 33.9 per cent on Sunday compared with the same days last year.

Trafford Centre, Bluewater, Meadowhall, Lakeside Thurrock and Merry Hill were all affected. High street footfall also dipped 3.8 and 4.4 per cent on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

'It may be that good weather was partially responsible,' said SPSL analyst Dr Tim Denison. 'We shall have to wait a little longer to establish exactly how much impact the perceived terrorist threat is having.'