RETAILERS in a town at the heart of a campaign to encourage local shopping centres are enjoying a boost in trade this Christmas.

Now traders in Bishop Auckland are looking forward to 2004 with renewed hope that the town can once again become the thriving shopping centre it was for decades.

Traders united back in February in an attempt to save the shopping centre, which had suffered a series of blows in the previous years.

The town's chamber of trade and independent retailers joined forces with The Advertiser and the The Northern Echo to launch a Shopping for a Future campaign.

Since the campaign was launched the town has taken a series of steps forward and shop and caf owners hope they are now on the road to recovery.

Town centre manager Derek Toon said: "Most of the traders I have spoken to have reported good business in the run-up to Christmas and I hope it continues into next year.

"By working together the businesses can all benefit."

New independent businesses have opened up from one end of Newgate Street to the other, offering visitors more variety.

A gents' barbers, a greetings card and gift shop, TV and film memorabilia and coffee shop are among the new shops that have set up in the town.

Mr Toon said: "The new shops all appear to be good businesses and have brought benefits to the town. I am hopeful Bishop Auckland is going to keep improving and attract more shoppers to support our new and established traders. There are plans for the future so we can all continue to build on these signs of success."

However, some parts of Bishop Auckland have lost businesses towards the end of the year such as in Bondgate where a pet shop and caf, furniture store, greetings card and gift shop have all closed.

Caf owner Lesley Zair said: "Business has been good this winter, we're just hoping it isn't false economy and that it really is because the town is on the up and not just because of Christmas.

"The Christmas lights have made a big difference. Now we just need to attract a few more big-name, quality retailers and look at improving the smaller streets to move forward.

"The bottom end of town still needs some new life so it doesn't die."