The soon to be renamed Tower Ramparts Centre in Ipswich is expecting to attract 600,000 shoppers through its doors during December.

Retailers are in the middle of their busiest month of the year in the run-up to Christmas with footfall approaching 150,000 a week and sales for the month expected to top £30 million.

Fashion store Topman say business is up by more than 50% and assistant manager Sian Grey said: “There’s lots of stock coming and there’s lots to do which is great.

“December is our busiest month and we are 50 or 60 per cent busier than usual.

Stacey Southgate, Manager of Ryman, said: “It’s going very well here and I would say we’re 50% up on a normal month. It’s even busier than back to school time in August.

It’s a first Christmas at Tower Ramparts for Poundland but supervisor Tracy Britton knew what to expect. She said: “I’ve been with them for nine years so I knew it would be busy.

“We’re selling lots of health and beauty products and stocking fillers and we’ll be busy right up to Chrstmas Eve and then be back again on Boxing Day.”

Mike Sorhaindo, Manager of Tower Ramparts Shopping Centre, said: “This is a key time for retailers and we’re really looking forward to it and expecting a busy month.”

This is the centre’s last Christmas in its present guise – in the spring work will start on the £4 million refurbishment to transform it into Sailmakers shopping centre.