SHOPS and tourist attractions saw an increase in visitors during the mass walkout yesterday – with some welcoming three times as many people as this time last year.

Dalton Park, the North-East’s largest outlet shopping centre, experienced a 296 per cent increase in shoppers compared with the same day last year and a 45 per cent rise compared with last Wednesday.

However, Louise Thompson, marketing officer for the centre at Murton, County Durham, said last year’s footfall had been low because of the wintry conditions.

Shopping centres in Stockton, Darlington and Durham also reported an increase in shoppers.

Susan Young, manager of Darlington’s Cornmill Shopping Centre, said: “It’s been really busy all day, which is to be expected at this time of year. However, compared to figures for the same day last year, we’ve seen an increase of more than ten per cent in footfall.”

Mike Clarke, centre manager at Teesside Retail Park, said: “It’s been very, very busy, much more so than a typical Wednesday.

“From about 10.30am it started, there was barely a parking space left by the afternoon.

“There were lots of parents with their children, taking the opportunity to go shopping.”

It was not only the big shopping centres that saw an increase in customers, but also small shopkeepers such as Julie Sperning, who owns Julie’s HMD Floristry, a florist and fashion shop in Darlington’s indoor market.

“I don’t normally open on a Wednesday, I only did it because I was expecting a shoe order. But I’m glad I did, it’s been a good day. It’s been better trading than a Saturday.

“We’ve sold just about everything – children have come in to buy shoes with parents, couples have come in to buy flowers for weddings, we’ve had it all.”

Durham Cathedral and The Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle and Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, all reported welcoming many children and their parents.

Vicky Blane, membership and recruitment manager at Fountains Abbey said: “It’s been like a weekend here. There have been a few adults with a whole load of children with them.

“They came at about lunchtime and stayed the whole afternoon.”