BUSINESS is booming. That is the message from Shambles shopkeepers, who have hit back at suggestions the historic street is struggling to survive.

Retailers say they are enjoying positive trade from both York residents and visitors alike, and have hit back at doom-mongers who claim the street is struggling.

Yasmin Macartney, owner of Freaky Fridays at the foot of Shambles, said: "This street is revamping to serve not just tourists but local people as well. We are bringing local people back into the street."

Mrs Macartney said the businesses that were struggling should not blame others for their problems.

She said: "Businesses in the street have got to move with the times. If you see times changing and going a certain way, you adapt."

She added: "People should stop blaming rents and rates and everyone else for failures in their own business."

She said she thought much of York's retail sector was "trapped in the 1980s".

Several retailers recently told The Press the street was suffering as a result of high rents from City of York Council.

But Mrs Macartney's husband Ian said the £16,920 they paid a year was very fair.

He said: "People always slag off the council, but they are fantastic with us."

He said their suppliers said they were outperforming many other stores around the country.

Eileen Fletcher, who owns The Art Shop, also at the bottom of the street, has operated from Shambles for 16 years.

She said: "We have seen businesses come and go all the time, and do not really think Shambles is any different to many of the other streets in York and other cities in terms of the number of premises changing tenants."

She said the size of Shambles shops made them ideal for new businesses, and she said shops becoming vacant was often due to companies changing direction, not struggling.

She added: "It's one of the best streets for small businesses to trade in, because it's such a well-known street, and it does attract visitors.

"I think York people should be very proud there are so many people who are wanting to start businesses in the centre of York."

Pam Swinburne, owner of Aroma towards the top of Shambles, is moving out, but said that was so she could help her husband in his thriving surveying and building industry. She said she was sad to be going.

She said: "The people moaning about rents and rates want to change stock to be honest. If they cannot make a living, they are selling the wrong stuff."

She said her shop had been very successful and busy in the two years she had had it.