NEW figures have revealed a sharp drop in the number of pedestrians in York city centre in the year so far.

Cameras which log every person walking past in two key retail streets – Parliament Street and Coney Street – show that numbers declined in four out of the first five months of 2012, compared to the same period last year.

The biggest reduction in footfall came in April, when the total number of pedestrians plummeted by 16.3 per cent from 1,801,000 last year to 1,508,000 this April.

There were also decreases of 4.4 per cent, six per cent and 5.1 per cent in January, February and May respectively.

Only March saw an increase, of four per cent.

City centre manager Paul Barrett said the big drop in April reflected the national trend, which itself reflected the appalling weather as Britain experienced its wettest April on record. He said national data revealed there had been a 15.9 per cent reduction in footfall in historic centres in April.

Mr Barrrett said that in York there had been an additional local factor at work - the demolition of the toilet block in Parliament Street.

There was a 27.1 per cent decline in that street, when Coney Street's reduction was only 7.4 per cent.

As recently as last December, businesses in York were hailing the city for standing firm in the face of economic gloom as shoppers gave stores a festive retail boost.

Demands have been growing for the city centre to be given urgent help, amid concerns that planners' approval last month of two out-of-town superstores at Monks Cross would have a negative impact on city centre shops.

Adam Sinclair, chair of York Chamber of Trade, said the latest figures were a concern, but they were reflective of a deep consumer recession that was affecting city centres across the country.