CHRISTMAS shoppers in Bolton are giving store bosses plenty to smile about with spending well up on last year.

The town’s major retail areas all reported an increase in sales and numbers of customers on the run-in to Christmas Day.

Shoppers in the Market Place have ignored minimal disruption of work currently taking place to turn the centre into a nine-screen cinema complete with vaulted restaurants to boost trade.

Centre manager Nikki Wilson Cook said: “Our car park numbers are up and I’ve been getting very good feedback from the outlet managers.

“Work is progressing on the alterations. We are looking to get the restaurants complete and occupied by the time the food and drink festival comes to town in August next year and the cinema is on course for November.”

Crompton Place manager Paula Wood said figures were up two per cent throughout December compared to last year.

“We have welcomed around 4,500 more shoppers through the door so far and it has felt like Crompton Place has become busier as December has progressed," she said.

“We have had late night shopping until 8pm every Thursday through December and this will also apply on Tuesday. We will be open usual trading hours on Christmas Eve from 9am to 5.30pm.

“Boxing Day sales will start with a bang with many of our retailers, including New Look, BHS, Boots and Primark, all open for business by 9am, so our shoppers can make the most of the first-time bargains.”

It is a similar story at out-of-town retail hub Middlebrook.

Manager Heather Ingham said: “Middlebrook has seen a steady increase in Christmas trade since mid-November.

“We have seen store sales up year on year. We are now preparing for our busiest period of the year.

“Historically, December 23 is our busiest day of the year. Year on year to date we have seen an increase of 4.7 per cent.”

The good news has transmitted to the holiday sector with more people making the last-minute decision to jet off overseas to spend their festive break.

This is according to independent travel company Travel Counsellors, which has seen a surge in late bookings for December 20 to January 3, with a 56 per cent increase in people booking holidays abroad compared to the same period last year.

Sales director Malcolm Hingley said: “It seems more UK travellers are embracing the idea of spending Christmas and New Year overseas with a dramatic increase in late sales throughout December as many look to escape the miserable UK weather.”

The Canaries, boasting a good year round climate, remains the top destination alongside second-favourite, the ski slopes of France.

Travel Counsellors has continued to see a rise in the popularity of Dubai as the ongoing investment and development of the destination has seen an influx of tourism.