FOOTFALL is on the increase in Wrexham following the latest round of lockdown changes and council initiatives, a business leader has said.

Ruth Rees, chair of Wrexham Business Group CIC and co-owner of Martin Rees Jewellers, spoke previously of a "positive feeling" in the town as shoppers began to return.

She said the level of visitors to the town centre appears to be increasing, explaining: "The latest openings of businesses like cafes has definitely made a difference and the council has given free parking as well as extra click and collect, which has helped as well. "The footfall is building up and some of the time we are definitely getting as many customers as we can cope with.

"Overall things are really looking up. We had a really positive business group meeting a few weeks ago and we tried to encourage and help each other.

"Our website has been really busy too.

"With the number of orders we're getting it's more like Christmas - I think people are treating themselves and there are quite a few who still don't want to come to town."

Speaking of the social distancing and other safety measures in the town, she said: "We're not seeing any particular problems in Chester Street but I don't think everyone is following the one-way system in Bank Street, which was always going to happen.

"I think on the whole we're doing as well as we can under difficult circumstances.

"There are more people than I'd expected who are happy to be shopping again and have an appetite for shopping.

"We don't know what the future holds but we will do out best to continue meeting the challenges.

"In terms of what needs doing next, we need to promote the free parking more.

"Many people still don't know about it."