FESTIVE sales brought many town centre stores a boost, despite shopping patterns in the UK showing Christmas trade at its lowest level for 10 years.

Tyrers on Bridge Street witnessed an estimated 3 to 4 per cent rise in sales compared to the previous year.

Store manager Mike Duff said: "Sales were up because of the money we've invested in our new Christian Dior counter and the personal service we provide.

"We are also, I believe, the sole stockist of Prada in St Helens."

Dispelling the latest national statistics still further, Mike added: "Our post-Christmas sale has also proved extremely popular. We had a queue of 100 people waiting outside on the first day and I've never seen it as busy."

Preparation

Another success story was reported by Wendy Downey, owner of Wendy's Flowers on Church Road in Rainford.

Specialising in creative flower arranging, the shop notched up much-improved Christmas trade over previous years and Wendy put the success down to her 30 years' experience and early organisation.

She said: "We start arranging our orders for Christmas as early as June and a lot of preparation goes into it because we order our flowers from Holland. Our range of Christmas arrangements sold very well this year."

Of the large supermarkets the new Tesco, which replaced Safeway on Chalon Way last month, had a 'fantastic Christmas' according to deputy manager Dave Jones.

He said: "As the store had been shut for a while I think people wanted to see the new store and as a result we met all our sales expectations over Christmas.

"In fact we've been very busy ever since we opened on December 6 and it's only over the next few months when everything will settle down into normal trade that we'll really be able to see where we are."

'Cybersales'

But while many local businesses bucked the national trend, some did suffer this year.

The team at Thatto Cycles on Leslie Road will be looking at investing in the power of the internet in the future, as it appears that 'cybersales' had an adverse effect on their own Christmas trade.

Co-owner Mrs Jean Stead explained: "We did pretty well but the general retail trend towards buying presents over the internet, combined with the opening of enormous new supermarkets seemed to affect our trade."

And at Bromilow Cycles, on North Road, owner Brian Bromilow attributed the dip in sales to more careful spending by the public.

He explained: "People seem to have realised that Christmas can be a very costly exercise and were more sensible with their money. The larger stores hit us hard though, because they can afford to practically give bikes away."