Business is booming for shops across the city with some shelves falling bare as the Christmas rush continues.

And traders believe many shoppers are shunning the snarled up motorways around Bradford to shop locally this year.

The biggest boost to the city - which has suffered in the past through an exodus to the White Rose centre in Leeds, Manchester and Meadowhall, Sheffield - was at the refurbished Kirkgate centre .

Its owners, Prudential Properties, has reported the number of customers visiting the shopping centre was 26.5 per cent up on last Christmas, compared with an average of 14.4 per cent rise in its portfolio of 50 centres around Britain.

Catherine Riley, pictured, manager of the Kirkgate centre, which has had a £4 million revamp, said: "The centre is buzzing - I'm absolutely delighted."

Elsewhere in the city centre other shops were having a bumper Christmas with most people using credit cards, rather than cash.

Stuart Cavallaro, manager of Marks & Spencer in Darley Street, said: "It's great to see and we wonder if the weather is helping."

Boots manager Peter Stones said: "It is excellent and we are well above budget. The large majority of people are buying on credit cards and the sales are for products right across the line."

He said shelves had almost run bare in the rush to get popular products.

Traders at the new Oastler shopping centre - formerly John Street market - also reported their best Christmas for years. Peter Pundit, of Pundit Drapery, said his trade was up by 20 to 30 per cent.

"There's a good atmosphere and a lot more people," he added.

Anthony Ackroyd, of Northgate Bistro, said: "It started late, but I think it's the best Christmas for nine years."

Mary Frame, executive member of Bradford Chamber of Trade, said she believed people were shopping locally to avoid the ever growing motorway jams.

"It is absolutely brilliant," she said.