TRADERS are calling for action to boost York city centre's evening economy as retailers report "disappointing" and "flat" sales.

As part of a de-brief this month, York Retail Forum heard members describe Christmas trade as "okay" at best, with many reporting a drop in both footfall and takings.

Members criticised the lack of a late night Christmas shopping strategy for the city centre, with many stating it was not viable to open beyond normal hours due to a lack of shoppers.

Traders called for a "coherent strategy" for the city, to ensure both retailers and customers are fully informed about late night shopping opportunities.

The pleas tie in with wider calls to boost York's evening economy, as businesses seek help in combating the “teatime lull” in city-centre trade and lengthening York’s tourist day throughout the year.

Frank Wood, chairman of York Retail Forum, said: "What we have been discussing is some kind of event to kick start a night time economy in York, followed by a programme of sustained events to attract people into the city centre and entice the shops to stay open.

"Christmas is an optimum time for that as its one of the most important trading periods for retailers.

"We have tried to get the late night Christmas shopping going in York for many years, but have really struggled.

"It's a vicious circle - people don't come in because the shops aren't open, and shops don't open because they don't get enough shoppers in.

"It used to work extremely well, we used to be incredibly busy, but now we have seven day trading weeks, and evening shopping out of town, it seems to have died down. There doesn't seem to be the demand.

"We need to create the demand, get something going on to get people in, then once potential shoppers are in the city more shops will open. We need to get in motion the opposite to the vicous circle we're experience now."

Wider action to boost the evening economy has been the subject of a council scrutiny committee, which is working on a pilot to create early-evening family entertainment in the Coppergate centre, to encourage families to stay in the city after traditional shop closing time, and steer the night-time economy away from a drinking culture.

Corporate scrutiny chairman, Councillor John Galvin said: "I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that there is a need for something to happen on an evening in York city centre, even if it's one night a week, but it has to be family orientated. It won't work just as a retail experience.

"We need to start with a targeted approach, a specific event that will be supported by retail, and be suitable for families. I would hope we would get something off the ground in the summer."

Mr Wood said forum members also believed the current free festive parking offered by City of York Council on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays in December up to 11am, was not at the peak time, and that although it may be expensive to enforce, the city would benefit more from free parking in an evening.

The forum heard members saw the loss of the Festival of Angels in 2014 as a "blow", and that although they welcomed the extension of the St Nicholas Fayre to a month rather than a weekend, they were unhappy about how long the empty stalls remained in Parliament Street once the fayre had finished.