WATCH - BBC News Report on Bedford Bucking the Trend

Bedford Town Centre's record of bucking the trend in the face of the crisis for UK High Streets was the focus of a report on BBC Look East last night. In his introductino, the newsreader declares that Bedford is 'the High Street fighting back against out-of-town stores and the internet'. The report includes the facts and figures which illustrate how Bedford has increased footfall in contrast to the national trend of falling numbers of visitors to high streets, and features comments from Mayor Dave Hodgson, seen here during his interview in The Arcade.

You can watch their report in full on Mayor Dave's website, here

As Mayor Dave says in his comments alongside the video:

"BBC Look East led their main bulletin last night with the story of how Bedford town centre is fighting back against the rise of online shopping, as we enter the crucial festive period for retailers.'

"The report includes my comments about the importance of giving people different reasons to come into town, which is critical now in a way that it wasn't in years gone by when people had to come into town several times a week for groceries and essentials.'

"Great to hear Hattie&Co speaking up for all of our fantastic independent traders!"