Shoppers are returning to Bury St Edmunds in droves, with figures indicating a full recovery since the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to data collected by Our Bury St Edmunds, the town's Business Improvement District (BID), footfall in the town has increased by nearly 20% in 2022, compared to 2021.

This is also slightly higher than the 2019 figure, showing that the town has recovered from the diminished footfall recorded while pandemic restrictions were in place.

Our Bury St Edmunds chief executive Mark Cordell said: "We know that times are still extremely challenging for everyone which will, of course, affect businesses and customers alike.

"However, I am heartened by the footfall figures that show people are still visiting the town centre and the increase sine 2019 is especially pleasing as that bucks the national trend where the figure is down by nearly 17%.

"It's also encouraging to see the rate of vacant units at less than half the national average - and I am hopeful that in due course new businesses will be found for some of the six and a half percent of premises currently empty."