A NEW survey among Swindon shopkeepers claims many of them believe their takings will be down this Christmas because shoppers are going elsewhere to buy their presents.

The organisers of the survey say that this was the view of three quarters of the 50 retailers they quizzed.

But Barry Lingard, who is the chief executive of the Swindon Initiative, which is based in the town centre, said he was surprised with the results of the survey.

He said: "The evidence I have got from speaking to retailers in Swindon does not support that statement.

"Business in Swindon is very encouraging and we are getting reports of increases of over ten per cent in many sectors, and this is the big boys as well as the smaller shops.

"We have also had much positive feed back from shoppers and there has been significant improvements on the launch of the Christmas season in the town this year. We have had new shops come into the town and the standard of service has also gone up.

"Overall I would say business in Swindon has been very encouraging."

Thomson Local, which carried out the survey, said many traders are worried that Christmas trade was being lost to shopping centres in places like Bristol and Reading.

Spokeswoman Katie Brett said the survey quizzed a random sample of Swindon retailers on whether their business was being damaged by shoppers going further afield for their goods and services.

One of them was Emmy Butcher, the owner of Fluffy Plastics, a novelty gift shop in the Brunel Centre.

She said:" I think Swindon people spend a lot of time in the town during the week but when it comes to Christmas shopping they tend to go elsewhere for a different shopping experi-ence.

"What they don't seem to realise is that by going out of town it affects us and it could become a major problem.

"We have everything in Swindon that other centres have and more, and would like to see people doing their Christmas shopping locally."

Mick Constable is the manager of the Gorse Hill Toyshop and he is worried about a drop off in trade.

"The past two Christmases have been very good and I am now hoping that trade will pick up and we have a last minute buying rush.

"I don't really know where people have been going but I suspect it could be Cribbs Causeway at Bristol. "

Dennis Grant, the chief executive of Swindon Chamber of Commerce, said the survey had highlighted an all year round problem.

"Support for our local retailers is crucial to the future of our local economy," he said.

"Local shops employ local people. They are the attraction for people moving into the area and provide the level of facilities we need to support the needs of our local community."