SOUTH Lakeland traders have seen sales hit by snow and economic woes in what should have been their biggest trading month.

Shoppers say they have been turned off by chain stores and have turned to the internet to pick up their Christmas gifts, leaving streets noticably quieter than previous years.

Kendal retail complex K Village said in a statement it was ‘feeling the effects of the economic recession’, which managers put partly down to adverse weather conditions.

But the centre reported its decision to offer free parking had increased footfall.

Ulverston Traders’ Association chairman Ralph Spours said online sites had stolen business from Ulverston town centre but shops attracted custom by concentrating on offering a unique service.

Windermere and Bowness Chamber of Trade secretary Adrian Faulkner said severe weather warnings had led to vacancies at guest houses in the area, which in turn had decreased retail trade.

In Kendal, shoppers blamed a lack of atmosphere and choice for falls in trade.

Kendal truck driver Phil Allen said poor displays and cold shopping centres had been a disappointment.

Garth and Margery Swallow, of Garstang, previously travelled to Kendal to shop for gifts. They said an influx of generic shops and a lack of choice had let them down. “There aren’t as many olde world shops and K Village seems to attract a different type of shopper – we would rather travel to Lancaster from now on.”

Timber framesman David Elshaw, of Burneside, said there weren’t enough Christmas events to attract shoppers to the streets.

“I thought it would be more festive – it’s been rubbish.”

However, recently opened retail store Made in Cumbria said their Christmas hampers of local produce had been flying from the shelves. Retail manager Tracey Graham said more than 200 had been sold in under a fortnight.

“We’ve hosted events in town and in the Westmorland Shopping Centre and they’ve all proved very popular.

“Everywhere else seems to be trying to start their sales early but because our stock is all local we’ve been really popular for gifts.”