TRADERS in Poole’s Dolphin Centre have reported improved trade in the run-up to Christmas.

The uplift comes despite a host of national retailers announcing static or falling like-for-like sales in the run-up to the festive season.

BHS in the Dolphin Centre saw a two per cent increase in the pre-Christmas period compared with 2013, beating the national average, while Beales said sales were up 1.7 per cent, with footfall up by 1,550 customers.

Marks and Spencer also said there had been strong year-on-year growth, in line with the company’s national performance, in the Christmas week.

The centre also said that footfall throughout 2014 was up 1.5 per cent on the previous year.

It said a programme of events and free parking days had helped boost trade in the run-up to Christmas.

BHS store manager Simon Prager said: “The restaurant has been particularly strong for us this season. Thanks to the modernisation of the restaurant in March last year, the restaurant has seen a 15 per cent uplift in trade compared to last year.”

Events at the centre in December included a Ladies Night and a Last Minute’s Men Night, offering discounts and free entertainment.

Centre manager John Grinnell said: “It’s been a brilliant Christmas for trade at the Dolphin Shopping Centre.

“Thanks to the creativity of our team, our VIP late night shopping evenings were especially popular and helped make Christmas shopping less stressful and more fun.”

The Dolphin Centre has more than 120 stores over 430,000sqft and 1,400 car park spaces, with other key tenants including HMV and Thorntons.

It has been owned by Legal and General Property since 2013, when it bought the centre from Dutch firm Wereldhave for £57.7m.