Shops are enjoying a weekday boost due to workers returning to the office, new figures show. 

The latest report from retail analysts, Springboard, has found that across the country there has been a 17.2pc annual increase in visitors to high streets on weekdays, compared to a 10.3pc rise at the weekend.

In shopping centres, the year-on-year weekday rise was 12.4pc, but just 4.8pc on weekends.  

Diane Wehrle from Springboard said: "The move of employees back into offices in January was clearly demonstrated by a greater annual rise in weekday footfall than weekend footfall in both high streets and shopping centres.

"With many shopping centres located in high streets, it is not surprising that when consumers head back into offices – most of which are in town centres - it drives up both high street and shopping centre footfall."

Locally, many of the region's retailers have also seen a boost from returning office workers. 

Paul McCarthy, general manager of Norwich's biggest shopping centre Chantry Place, said that footfall for the start of this year "shows growth against 2022".

He added that the growth has been "consistent" across the whole week.  

Despite the increase in weekday visitors, shop owners have had a difficult time as consumer confidence has fallen due to the cost of living crisis. 

The region's retail bosses have been hosting events and launching initiatives to attract visitors back into stores after the pandemic.  

Simon Ashdown, director of LPC1 which manages the Royal Arcade in Norwich city centre, said that the shopping centre has seen "footfall figures rise significantly over the last six months". 

He added: "While some of that may be attributable to office workers returning to the city, I think a lot of it is down to the fact that the public has recognised that we have rejuvenated the Royal Arcade with new store openings and the launch of Yalm Food Hall making it much more of a ‘must visit’ destination.

"We have also noticed that more international visitors, particularly American, and domestic tourists have been visiting our stores.

"Being a city centre retail destination, we are of course delighted if returning office workers means an increase in our footfall.”