Tills are jingling in Bradford as shoppers make the most of the last opening hours in the countdown to Christmas Day.

About half a million shoppers have made their way to the Kirk-gate Centre, with numbers “a shade up” on last year’s footfall, according to centre manager Catherine Riley.

She said: “We are incredibly busy which is totally what we were expecting. All the stores have got their full staff in and all the tills are ringing. There’s a real buzz about the place.”

Santa Claus has also been rushed off his feet with youngsters visiting him at his grotto in the centre’s upper mall.

Mrs Riley said: “Officially Santa is here until 3pm today.

“After that, he’s got to dash off to feed the reindeer and load his sleigh.”

Visit the Telegraph & Argus website at telegraph andargus. co.uk where you can listen to the message from Santa Claus to girls and boys everywhere.

Elsewhere, town centres in the district have also been enjoying the last-minute shopping frenzy.

In Shipley, shoppers laden with bags were milling around the shops and Asda was so busy it needed staff to direct cars to parking spaces.