RETAIL parks beat the high street in the battle for Easter holiday trade, figures show.

Nationally, town centre shops suffered a 7.5% drop in shopper numbers over Easter compared with the 2005 bank holiday weekend, according to retail analysts FootFall.

Retail parks saw only a 0.1% dip compared to last year as special offers at major home and DIY chains helped pull in customers.

Warm weather on Good Friday kept people out of the shops, causing a 4.3% drop in footfall (the number of people) on the high street and a 7.4% drop at retail parks compared to last Easter.

Shops fared better on Saturday, with shopper numbers up by 3.1% at retail parks but still down 3.3% on the high street.

After the Easter Sunday break for larger stores, retail parks re-opened yesterday to a 4.1% upturn in customer numbers over last year.

This widened the gap with the high street, which saw footfall drop by 9.3% compared to Easter Monday of 2005.

FootFall marketing manager Natasha Burton said: "Following a disappointing first quarter, jaded retailers have been anxiously awaiting the Easter weekend to help them predict the performance of the retail sector over the coming months.

"Unfortunately there have been few signs to indicate a resurgence in consumers' appetites to shop on the high street, but with more good weather looming, retail parks have every opportunity to cash in and continue the success they've achieved this weekend."

Separate figures released today by retail analysts SPSL showed overall shopper numbers were down by 5.5% on Good Friday compared with last Easter.