RETAILERS have reported a bumper Easter with the number of people heading to the shops up by 20% in places over the holiday weekend.

The forecast had been for a dismal weekend at the tills given the colder weather.

However, shopping proved to be a popular draw in Scotland, with footfall on the high street and in shopping centres outperforming other parts of the UK.

The number of people heading to town and city centres was up 20% in Scotland, compared to the UK average of just 6%, with businesses in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow reporting a strong weekend of trading.

Shopping centres across Scotland experienced an average increase of around 8%, while out-of-town retail parks had an increase of 1.4% compared to the Easter weekend in 2012.

Jo Power, a spokeswoman for the Prince Mall Shopping Centre in Edinburg, said: "It was a fun and lively weekend for the centre as footfall remained strong throughout and trading appears up on last year."

Aberdeen's Union Square was also celebrating as it saw an above average increase in its footfall over the weekend.

The centre's general manager, Ryan Manson, said: "We kicked off our Easter celebrations in style on Thursday evening and shoppers visited in their droves.

"Over the weekend, the centre has been bustling and we're delighted to have seen a 12% increase in footfall on Easter weekend last year."

Silverburn Shopping Centre in the south side of Glasgow saw an above-average footfall, with numbers exceeding 50,000 each day with a rise of 20% compared to Easter weekend last year.

Judith O'Leary, a spokeswoman for the centre, said: "The cold weather has certainly helped with shoppers heading indoors to shop and dine.

"Restaurants have been particularly busy and sales of new season shoes and fashions have also shown positive signs.

"Shopping destinations have to work hard to attract shoppers and Silverburn is pulling out all the stops."

In the centre of Glasgow, Kathy Murdoch, manager at Buchanan Galleries, said they had a "busy weekend with shoppers making the most of the Easter break".

Susan Nicol, general manager of St Enoch Centre, also said their footfall was very strong. She said: "We estimate we've had something in the region of a quarter-of-a-million visitors over the holiday weekend.

"Those figures compare well with last year and there's been positive feedback from many of our retailers, with strong trading throughout the mall."

Glasgow city centre has recently bolstered its reputation as a shopping destination with the opening of the £70 million Buchanan Quarter last month, which includes US fashion chain Forever 21, Office, Paperchase and Fat Face among its portfolio. More businesses are expected to be drawn to the area.

Shopper presence in locations throughout the UK increased by 8% this Good Friday compared to last year.

The high street in particular had an increase of almost 8% on Good Friday and almost 6% on Saturday.

Out-of-town centres also performed well, with an increase of 4% on last year across the weekend.

The bitter weather benefited shopping centres, and the areas saw a substantial increase on last year, with a rise of 11% compared to Good Friday 2012.

Diane Wehrle, director at Springboard, the firm behind the figures, said: "The crisp, dry weather clearly encouraged people to venture out this Easter.

"There were fears the Budget may hit consumer confidence at a time when people are already feeling stretched, causing more people to want to tighten their belts and prepare for the next few years but this has not been the case."