MILNTHORPE has the highest percentage of empty shops in South Lakeland.

New figures released by South Lakeland District Council show 16 per cent of the village’s shops are empty.

But local councillor and resident Cllr Roger Bingham says the figures are misleading.

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“I have never seen the place so prosperous,” he told a full meeting of SLDC. “A large Spar and Booths have opened and there’s also a lot of other little businesses. A tattoo parlour started up two years ago would you believe?

“There’s a lot going on in Milnthorpe with more people employed than ever before.”