Around 34,000 fewer people are expected to shop in Preston city centre this year, resulting in a £75million drop in spending.

That's according to the annual retail footprint report by CACI, a company which specialises in providing retail information.

It said it reflected a national trend prompted by the rising popularity of retail parks.

Leyland however, is bucking the trend and is projected to welcome 293 more shoppers this year, spending £600,000 more than last year.

Julia Horn, general manager of Preston and District Chamber of Trade which covers both Preston and Leyland, said the city was performing well given the current national downturn.

"Retail parks do have an affect, and it's up to town and city centres to combat that. Our members are not experiencing a huge downturn, but I don't think it's a particularly easy environment. Whether that's down to out-of-town shopping or national retailing I don't know."

According to CACI, in 2004, 212,555 people visited the city, spending £465.8m, it projected the number would fall this year to 178,407 spending £390.8m.

Traditional footfall figures count the number of trips made to a shopping centre, which could include multiple visits a day by the same individual. But CACI'S retail footprint report examines the overall number of individual shoppers to an area. The company said a change in the methodology may also have contributed to Preston's apparent drop in numbers.

CACI projected 10,815 will visit Leyland town centre this year spending £24m, up from 10,522 shoppers last year who spent £23.4m

Mrs Horn added: "Leyland's success may have been boosted by the popularity of Tesco Leyland."