Bradford shoppers are still buying local despite news that online shopping sales have surged as people try to find bargains for Christmas.

The number of high street casualties is expected to rise this month as more household names and leading corporations are still suffering from the effects of the recession.

Profit warnings by retailers are at “alarming levels” while the online retail market is growing at a rate of 14 per cent year-on-year, with Britons spending an estimated £7.25 billion shopping on the internet.

But Catherine Riley, the manager of the Kirkgate Shopping Centre, in Bradford, which houses 67 shops, said that they had been very busy.

“There is a fantastic atmosphere and we would urge more people to come down and get some bargains,” she said.

“There has been a gradual increase in shoppers but we knew this week would be extremely busy. The nearer it gets to Christmas, the closer people stay to home.

“It is fair to say people are being canny about what they spend and are buying wisely. This week has been better than we were expecting, but nationally footfall is down from last year.”

Val Summerscales, from the Chamber of Trade, which is linked to 800 businesses, said that online shopping statistics had to have an impact on the High Street.

“We still feel that there is a section of the community that still wants to look at goods and see them and bring them away with them. We cannot deny that increases in internet shopping is a loss to the High Street.”