WORCESTER'S booming city centre shows no signs of slowing down as new traders are setting up shop.

The bustling centre will receive a boost with the reopening of fashion company Roman Originals tomorrow.

Roman closed its shop in CrownGate shopping centre in July, but the womens clothing retailer is again opening its doors to shoppers at the former CC Viyella store in Pump Street.

Manager Kate Ford said: "The Worcester team are so pleased to be back - we had a lot of regular customers who have been desperate for us to return."

Meanwhile Danish chain Tiger Stores, which specialises in products for the home and office including toys and decorations, looks set to move into the former Wallis unit in High Street.

Mist, an e-cigarette store, is also set to move into an empty unit in The Shambles while coffee chain Starbucks is due to open in the former Support the Arts unit on the Cross in November.

Your Worcester News has previously reported on figures for June and July that showed how footfall had increased in the city centre as much as 5.7 per cent year-on-year at its peak, meaning shopper numbers rose to 64,186. 

This can be compared to the national trends among rival cities that saw footfall decline minus 1.7 per cent in June, and minus 0.6 per cent in July. 

Worcester also has strong occupancy rates - recent figures showing just 13 per cent of 732 units were empty, second only to Solihull in the West Midlands.

Worcester's findings were collected by consultancy firm Experian Footfall for the city's Business Improvement District (BID), which represents city centre retailers and businesses.

Adrian Field, head of Worcester BID, said: "When we looked at the occupancy figure again it was actually down to nine per cent of units, which we are even more pleased about.

"I think we will always see empty units but it is about the time it takes for them to become occupied again.

"People are looking at Worcester and realising it is a city on the up - for instance Starbucks has seen the potential in the city.

"There is a good catchment area and the right type of businesses are here, so potential retailers who have done their homework will see Worcester is a good investment opportunity."