RECORD-BREAKING Christmas shopping figures are expected across Essex as malls like High Chelmer reported the highest sales volumes in history.

More than 30,000 shoppers swamped the Chelmsford centre on Christmas Eve and retail bosses hailed the reopening of the High Chelmer car park as a key factor that helped them beat the economic downturn.

High Chelmer boss Mick McDonagh said: "All in all it has given us an exceptional Christmas – the best ever recorded – and 10.7 per cent up on 2010.

"Retailers were concerned that Christmas would pass us by but immediately after the car park reopened on November 30, things began to look up."

The car park had been shut since April after a roof fall sparked a full structural survey, which in turn led to a £2million safety overhaul.

Overhead monitoring equipment recorded more than 250,000 shoppers cramming through High Chelmer during Christmas Week. On Friday before Christmas Eve 7,000 people an hour were clocked on the monitors.

Sue Patel, who runs Chelmsford's Meadows shopping centre, said: "December trading for most retailers was either better than last year or flat, with only a few trading slightly below last year.

"The month started slowly, but a phenomenal run-up of nearly two weeks to Christmas more than made up for that.

"The after Christmas sales are going extremely well."

Richard Townrow, director of Townrow in Braintree and Maldon, said his firm has had its best Christmas in four years.

"People seemed determined to have a good Christmas even without us discounting," he added.

Freeport Designer Village's centre manager Paul McCarthy said: "The amount of people coming here has been significantly up on this time last year, both for Boxing Day and the new year.

"We have been very pleased with the way things have gone so far."

Reflecting on the year ahead, Mr McDonagh said: "Experts say this economic climate will last ten years and considering we are in the fourth year it seems we have held our own very well.

"That seems to apply for the whole of the town centre.

"However, I do expect there to be an aftermath. Some of our short term lessees will not be renewing in 2012."