TORFAEN high streets have seen a rise in footfall whilst other town centres across Gwent continue to struggle.

Data released by the National Assembly for Wales shows that Blaenavon had the highest regional rise.

Both Blaenavon and Pontypool continue to go against the grain when compared to other Gwent high streets. Between 2010 and 2015, Blaenavon has attracted 19 per cent more people, accounting for more than 1,000 extra weekly shoppers in the town than in previous years.

Last year the town had 6,816 people on average shopping each week.

Blaenavon mayor, councillor Alan Jones, said: “This increase is down to our hard work in promoting Blaenavon and its status as a World Heritage town. We get visitors from all over the world come and visit us, at the weekend I saw people from New Zealand, China and Japan in the town.

“We know this year has also been really good and it's important that we continue to build Blaenavon up as a major tourism place which will help invest more money in the town and have a positive impact on its people.”

Over the same period Pontypool has seen an increase of one per cent as it continually attracts more than 15,000 in footfall.

However, the town has been in a state of flux with the re-development of the indoor market. From 2010 to 2013, there was an increase of 14 per cent before a dip in 2014. However, overall the figures last year are still higher than five years ago.

Chair of Pontypool Traders Association, Nikola Masters, said: “It’s lovely to have some really positive news, we often hear about the doom and gloom but this shows that all of the hard work in promoting the town does pay off.

“Over the last couple of years we have been involved in various things to attract extra people that may have not been to the town before such as the party in the park.”

Figures for 2016 are not included in the footfall data whilst figures are unavailable for Cwmbran shopping centre due to it being privately owned.

Elsewhere Ebbw Vale has lost 20 per cent of its weekly shoppers since 2008 and Abergavenny town centre has experienced a 56 per cent decline.

Torfaen’s executive member for regeneration, councillor Lewis Jones, said: “It’s pleasing to see that over a five year period Pontypool and Blaenavon have slightly bucked the trend, but the regional figures show that high street traders need to keep their offer fresh to compete with the internet and out of town shopping.

“We are working with traders to put on events and activities to entice people into our towns, and offer free parking across the borough. Our ‘time to revisit Pontypool’ campaign highlights the unique attractions on offer in Pontypool which make it a great destination for shoppers and visitors.”