Riots contribute to 4.8% drop in footfall on UK high streets

Shops and businesses are boarded up in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, in expectation of rioting. Photograph: John Keeble/Getty

Shoppers have avoided high streets in recent days after rioting across England and Belfast led to shops being vandalised and looted, hitting footfall for retailers and neighbouring businesses, figures show.

Footfall on UK high streets declined by an average 4.8% between Sunday and Wednesday from the same period the week before, according to the real estate software firm MRI Software. This compares with a smaller fall of 2.7% in all UK retail destinations, including shopping centres and out-of-town retail parks.