Riots did little damage to shopping activity, high street survey reveals

August's riots appear to have done little damage to activity on Britain's high streets, a survey of shopping activity shows.

Footfall in UK shops was down 1.5 per cent last monthfrom a year earlier – the smallest August decline for four years. Greater London, the scene of many disturbances, saw activity rise 0.9 per cent and other affected areas such as Nottingham and Croydon had much stronger growth according to Springboard's National High Street Index.

Diana Wherle, Springboard's research director, said: "The figures showed an initial dip as the riots struck in Greater London but what's really positive is that by the following weekend shoppers were out in force."

However, Birmingham suffered a 24.8 per cent fall in activity and Manchester registered a 3 per cent decline.