SHOPPERS are returning to the High Street, according to figures just released.

Numbers hitting the shops across the Borders has been in freefall over the past decade.

But the latest survey, carried out last summer, shows a one per cent rise in numbers from the previous year.

And leading the way are Selkirk, Peebles and Hawick.

Four towns recorded an increase including Selkirk (up 13 per cent); Peebles (up two per cent); Hawick (up eight per cent) and Duns (up three per cent).

But the statistics also show Galashiels suffered just a one per cent drop.

Not fairing so well were Jedburgh (down six per cent); Kelso (down four per cent); Melrose (down five per cent); and Eyemouth (down seven per cent).

Councillor Stuart Bell, spokesman for Economic Development,told us: “The footfall figures paint a very mixed picture, but it is encouraging to see such a substantial increase in Hawick, where we are working with a range of partners, including the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise on the Hawick Action Plan.

“The recently established Town Centre Resilience Index uses a range of statistics, including footfall and retail vacancies, to help us target council resources for maximum impact in the towns in greatest need, and these latest figures confirm that we must extend our efforts in Jedburgh and Eyemouth to help their economies.”

The retail vacancy study reveals empty shops remained steady at 11 per cent, still below the national average.

Councillor Ron Smith, SBC’s Executive Member for Planning and Environment, added: “These studies are useful in helping us assess the health of our town centres, when read in conjunction with various other measures, and these results show consolidation, which in these still tough economic times is a positive in itself.

“The council alone cannot revive our High Streets and our partners, community groups, businesses themselves and the public have a role to play in ensuring that bustling Borders towns are not a thing of the past.”