FOOTFALL within Spindles, Oldham, is up 20 per cent compared to December, says the centre’s manager.

Reflecting on the first week of trading since lockdown restrictions eased on April 12, the manager of the shopping centre has said most trader’s sales were up on 2019.

Mike Flanagan, Spindles Town Square centre manager, said: “It’s great to have all our retailers and businesses open and to welcome back shoppers and visitors to the town centre.

“The atmosphere has been really positive with a general sense of relief to be able to get back to some sort of normality.

“As a result, we’ve seen footfall within Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre up 20 per cent compared to the first day of release from lockdown in December.

“Many of the tenants traded extremely well, with most well above the equivalent week in 2019 and above targets which have been set in the absence of a like-for-like comparison with 2020.”

He added: “Businesses have worked hard to ensure they are Covid-secure and restrictions such as social distancing and wearing of face coverings are being well observed. We urge people to continue to follow the guidance so we can keep each other safe and keep our town centre open for business.”

Michelle Hattersley, who manages the YMCA charity shop in Spindles, described the previous seven days as “the best week’s trading since the shop opened,” with customers “over the moon” that the store’s doors have reopened.

She said: “We’ve been non-stop since Monday and still busy.”

A pop-up rapid coronavirus testing centre has also launched within Spindles for people without symptoms.

The centre at Unit 61, Spindles,on the upper level next to the YMCA charity shop, is the first of the pop-up testing sites arranged by the council at locations across Oldham.

An Oldham Council spokesperson said the centre had proved “a big success” with workers and customers coming back into the town centre.

They added: “The aim is to support retail, hospitality, office staff, shoppers and customers to have the confidence to return by playing their part and having a regular rapid Covid-19 testing.”