The number of empty shops in Shipley has fallen to its lowest level for a year, reversing a trend of shopkeepers deserting the town.

Figures released by Bradford Council showed that 43 shops – about a fifth of the total – were standing empty between January and March this year.

It was the largest number of shop vacancies for the past six years.

However, the town centre has now been given a major boost after seven new shops opened this month, with more on the way.

Jeweller Barry Cooper, a member of Shipley’s Town Centre Development Partnership, said: “It did look bleak but, in reality, it is a total positive. It has gone from a 20 per cent vacancy rate to more than six units being filled in one month. I don’t think we have ever seen that in such a short space of time.

“When the survey was carried out, there were a number of shops that were actually taken but the figures showed them as empty because they hadn’t opened yet.”

The new shops include The Toy Box, Carole’s Florist, the Beauty Bank, The Spud Shop, Sketch Digital Printers and plumbing services’ shop Combi Call.

Fashion shop Store 21 will open on Saturday in the former Woolworth store. Perkins, The Craft Shop and The Health Shop have also relocated and expanded and fancy dress shop Aladdin’s Cave is set to move from the indoor market to Kirkgate House. Another florist, Butterflies, will open in Kirkgate on April 27.

Mohammed Farooq opened Spud Hut in Westgate on Monday after being made redundant in December. He said: “There seems to be a lot of footfall in Shipley where we are with people walking up Westgate. We have only been open for a few days but it’s so far, so good.”

Yvonne Crossley, Shipley town centre manager, said: “We have several new businesses opening up in the town centre in March and April and are hoping this will have a knock-on effect and bring more investment to Shipley.”