Limerick retailers are set to enjoy their best New Year sales on record with consumer spending at an all-time high, leading to store tills clicking a merry tune.

Coming on the back of a hectic pre-Christmas, with sales up by an estimated 10 per cent, traders are being rewarded for continued investment.

The wide variety of goods on offer and the positive atmosphere which prevails, combined with reasonably tood weather, have made for a bumper festive period.

Though the spend was huge prior to Christmas, first day of sales on Wednesday indicated that there was still plenty left in the kitty.

Eleanor O'Brien, chairperson of the Limerick Business Association, said that the city thrived during the build up to Christmas.

"This year, the effect of the city lights and Santa's visit were a huge draw. Limerick is increasingly becoming a family destination where everyone can enjoy a good day's shopping".

She added that people who once tripped to Dublin to do their festive shopping now find that the facilities are here on their own doorsteps.

"There's great variety in the city centre, be it small speciality shops or big department stores - Limerick is small enough and yet big enough to cater to everybody," she said.

But out-of-town shopping centres have also seen a huge draw.

People have undergone a huge lifestyle change in recent years and their Monday to Friday working lives means that more and more are being attracted to the availability of free parking and late-night shopping.