EXHAUSTED retailers at Yate Shopping Centre are celebrating after a record breaking Christmas.

During the month of December a record 1.4 million shoppers descended on the town centre with a bumper 66,600 on the Saturday before Christmas.

It marks a significant rise from recent years when figures of people visiting the centre during December just mounted the 1 million mark.

It also proves people were not afraid to spend this festive period despite early fears of a recession.

Vicki Westlake, manager of Victoria Westlake Florist, said the run in was so busy to Christmas she couldn't sell enough'.

"Its been unbelievably busy during December, there was never a quiet moment," she said.

"The number of people coming into the shop was almost hilarious at times, its been our best Christmas take in yet."

Staff at Woolworth's also reported a busy time in December.

A spokesman said: "Christmas is always busy for us and Christmas 2007 was no different, the Saturday before Christmas was our best day of the year.

"Our best sellers were the Nintendo Wii, Leona Lewis's Album and the Simpson's DVD."

Paul Jennings, manager of The Entertainer toy shop, said: "These are good times for retailers in the shopping centre.

"Like most other places we found the Christmas to be extremely busy with our sales slightly up again from last year.

"Surprisingly we found October to be our best month, parents seemed to be buying Christmas presents early this time.

"People like to come to Yate because of the variety shops and the close location, you can get almost anything here.

"While at the Mall it seems to be more about just clothes, music and food - usually an expensive day out."

The shoppers were counted by a Pedestrian Counting System company which uses CCTV footage located in each of the walkways to collect the data.

The December figures have bumped up the total number of shoppers at the centre during 2007 to well over 13 million.

Centre manager Steve Fawke said he was delighted.

He told the Gazette: "I have been involved with the centre for 18 months and one thing which has really stuck out for me is the loyalty of people in Yate to their shopping centre.

"This figures are amazing and ring out a message that Yate is alive and kicking."

Mr Fawke said he hoped future development at the centre would enhance its popularity further.

He said: "With the new Tescos and four large retail units we are confident we will find the right retail mix for shoppers.

"These are exciting times for the retailers and shoppers of Yate, we look forward to a good 2008."