A DROP in the number of people visiting Burnley town centre has been blamed on the new shopping centres in Blackburn and Bury.

Footfall in the town is down five per cent between the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year.

The reduction was also partly blamed on the bad weather, as well as the new Mall development in Blackburn and The Rock in Bury.

Coun Roger Frost, who is responsible for economic development on the council, said any further high street stores closing down in the town could have a significant impact.

He said: “Footfall is five per cent down from last year for the period from January to the present date. It is reflective of bad weather, where regular visits each week have not taken place, and also some leakage of custom to the new shopping centres of Bury and recently opened Blackburn.

"Against this background, Burnley continues to be resilient but in uncharted territory regarding how any future retail failures may impact on current occupancy levels.”

The loss of custom highlights the importance of Burnley’s Curzon Street shopping centre development.

That development is set to be home to Primark and Next as anchor tenants, with 17 other stores and cafes and restaurants.

Councillors say the centre, expected to open in 2013, will enable Burnley to fight back in the shopping wars.