A SHOPPING boss says more needs to be done in the town centre to stop shoppers using the internet to buy their goods.

Derek Ashbee, centre manager at Culver Square shopping centre, in Colchester, said it is worrying the town’s shoppers are the third most likely to shop online in the country.

“We need to be aware that people are turning to the online side of things,” Mr Ashbee said.

“We need to make the shopper feel special and give them something different to what they can get online. We need to make they feel valued and give them a shopping experience.

“That means keeping our town clean, tidy - doing the basics really. Not everything costs a fortune.”

Figures released by Royal Mail on Tuesday showed Colchester shoppers were only behind counterparts in Chelmsford and Lincoln.