More shoppers hit high streets and retail parks for late Christmas purchases

Shoppers descended on UK high streets and retail parks to buy last-minute gifts on Christmas Eve, boosting retailers amid a challenging consumer backdrop.More shoppers visited shops and retail destinations compared with a year ago, according to early data.Figures from retail technology specialists MRI Software showed footfall up to 1pm on Christmas Eve was up 2.4% compared with the same day a year earlier.