SHOPPERS packed into Liverpool city centre yesterday, on what is likely to be the busiest day of the year for retailers.

The icy weather proved to be no deterrent as Liverpool One was on course to welcome a record-breaking total of more than 800,000 people in the week leading up to Christmas.

This marks a steady week-on-week increase in the numbers of people - or “footfall” – visiting the city’s flagship shopping destination.

Liverpool One’s estates director, Chris Bliss, said: “Sales in the run-up to Christmas have seen strong year-on-year growth, particularly in clothing, footwear and beauty products, as shoppers hit the streets for their last- minute purchases.

“We are expecting the flow of shoppers to continue well into January as the sales begin.”

Ged Gibbons, Chief Executive of the City Central Business Improvement District (BID) – which represents more than 600 businesses in the heart of Liverpool city centre – said: “In Church Street, the best two performers have been Marks & Spencer and Primark, with the latter exceeding their annual target even before the Christmas rush.

“Everyone is mindful of the recession, but Liverpool is bucking that trend as much as it possibly can.

“I speak to other town centre managers up and down the country, and they say they would readily swap places with me any time.”