RETAILERS in the York and Selby area are expecting a busy Christmas Eve as shoppers complete some last minute Christmas shopping.

The VAT increase in January is also expected to bring shoppers back to the streets, after the bad weather in the past few weeks caused ten per cent of York’s usual shoppers to stay at home.

Mark Wetherell, director of Wetherells department store in Selby said: “I hope we’ll be busy.

We generally are on Christmas Eve.

“The cold weather has put people off without a doubt.”

He said he doubted surges of shoppers over the next few weeks could make up on the sales lost in December, but Christmas Eve was usually the busiest day of the year.

The store will re-open on December 28 and has not yet decided if or when it will hold January sales.

In the homes sector, retailers are looking to attract shoppers from Boxing Day to take advantage of the lower prices before the 20 per cent VAT rise kicks in on January 4.

Bensons for Beds, based inside Harvey’s at Clifton Moor, has also planned zero per cent VAT promotions for the rest of the month to catch the latecomers.

Simon Williams, marketing manager, said: “Bensons for Beds in York has got some spectacular offers lined up for the sale which kicks off on Boxing Day and will be heavily promoted on television from Christmas Day onwards.”

However, he remained cautious about the weather.

“We’re confident that consumers will be out in force for this year’s sales as many will want to snap up big ticket bargains ahead of the VAT increase to 20 per cent on January 4.

“The only thing that might stop them is the weather. We know the effect that had on the January 2010 sale which was going really well until the snow came along and stopped shoppers in their tracks.”

Brown’s of York is open 9am to 5pm on Christmas Eve and reopens on December 27, 9am to 6pm.

Monks Cross will open 9am to 4pm on Christmas Eve and 11am to 4pm on Boxing Day.

McArthur Glen designer outlet will be open 10am to 5pm on both Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.