West End's Bank Holiday weekend shopping frenzy

Shoppers flocked to the West End over the May Bank Holiday weekend, with footfall up 16.3% on a year ago.

New West End Company, which represents more than 600 retailers on Oxford, Regent and Bond streets, credited its first-ever Home Week promotion for increasing visitor numbers and claimed it had drawn custom away from out-of-town retail outlets.

New West End reported sales of £80 million over the three-day weekend, with £40 million of that generated on the Bank Holiday Monday, but did not disclose how that compared to 2009.

Selfridges said that its homeware sales had risen by 14% on a year earlier, thanks in part to the Home Week promotion.

Jace Tyrrell, spokesman for New West End Company, said central London stores were expanding from being a "fashion destination" into homeware ranges.

Tyrell added that many homeowners who put improvements on hold last year were now more willing to spend on decorating their homes."