HULL'S high street is bouncing back with fewer empty shops in the city than six months ago.

A national report on retail trends across the UK today showed 21.4 per cent of shops in the city are standing empty, compared to almost a quarter (24.2 per cent) six months ago.

And Bransholme has raced to the top half of the table with just 5.9 per cent of shops boarded up, when 12.5 per cent lay empty last year.

Chris Mason, of Scotts Property LLP in Alfred Gelder Street, said national and local retailers were being attracted to the city.

He said: "We have seen a good amount of activity.

"Before Christmas, Simon Preston at Scotts negotiated a number of new lettings, including four in King Edward Street.

"These included national chains Costa Coffee and Cash Converters, as well as local retailers such as Mooch and Diva Nails.

"I think this appetite will continue and Hull will generate strong inquiries from local, regional and national retailers."

Mr Mason said he believed more realistic expectations from landlords and property-owners were key reasons retailers were moving to Hull and surrounding areas.

He said: "Property owners are now much more realistic in terms of rent levels.

"Events in the city centre, such as those organised by Hull Business Improvement District, certainly do no harm and bring footfall into the city.

"However, a willingness from landlords to do deals to attract retailers is encouraging new business, including some local traders who, a few years ago, maybe had just one shop and would have found it unrealistic to take a city centre unit.

"The signs are very positive."

The report on the number of vacant shops across the UK is compiled twice a year by the Local Data Company.

For more than two years, the study, which acts as a "retail radar" measuring the health of high streets, has suggested a decline in Hull's retail landscape.

This has been because the number of boarded-up shops has either increased or seen no improvement from month to month. But now, green shoots appear to be pushing through the high street with new and existing retailers either relocating or expanding into Hull to fill the gaps.

Meanwhile, the number of empty shops in Beverley has remained stable at 12 per cent, with York also seeing little change at 9.7 per cent, down from 9.9 per cent six months ago.

Jim Harris, centre manager at St Stephen's Shopping Centre in Ferensway, agreed a willingness to "do deals" was helping to secure retailers old and new.

He said: "We are now in the fourth year of recession, so companies that have survived until now have proven themselves to be strong and steady.

"Landlords and retailers are working much closely than ever before to come to a deal that will be a win-win for all parties."