Official figures have been released this week which may show the economic effect of November's floods on retailers in York.

York Minster Shop has declared that its sales for the first half of November were down 72.45 per cent, from £17,485.44 in 1999 to £10,139.57 for the same period in 2000 - a drop of £7,345.87.

And other traders like Signatures of York in Fossgate said their shops were severely damaged by the floods crisis - not by water, but by the lack of customers.

Signatures owner Andrea Lewandowska said: "It was a horrendous time for us and many other shopkeepers.

"People were put off from coming into York by television reports and the whole event proved to us how much we rely on customers from outside of York. People who lived here carried on pretty much as normal, but outsiders were frightened off. We've made up for the lost revenue now - but it was a worrying time."

According to Adam Sinclair, chairman of York Chamber of Trade, these experiences follow the general trend within York.

Traders across the city reported between a 30 and 50 per cent drop in sales for November, coinciding with the floods.

The Evening Press reported at the time of the floods that retailers and business people across York suffered a substantial drop in trade. Many blamed the national media and some the emergency services and authorities for warning people to stay away from the city for an extended period of time.

However, traders, backed by the Evening Press, hit back with the York's Here promotion, which saw a day-long sale on the last day of November, which brought huge numbers of shoppers into York city centre. There have also been extensive campaigns to promote the city both nationally and regionally. Mr Sinclair added that sales were on the up again in the city since the floods. Nobody was available for comment at the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.