RESEARCH into Ayr’s high street will contribute to a £1 million pound project that will improve customer experience.

Ayr and Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) are working with a host of partners for the project to make sure that the town centre and high street are the best they can be.

With some of the high streets’ biggest retailers closing down across the country, MMU have been looking into the footfall of customers in Ayr as well as other town centres in the UK.

According to the University’s analysis of the data provided by Springboard, certain towns in the UK have uncovered the secret to a busy high street.

Professor Cathy Parker, the research lead at MMU, said: "High streets across the country are under threat and are at risk of closure due to competition from out of town shopping centres and online shopping.

"It is important that the town centres at risk fight back and redevelop in ways that will regain their customers."

The University are creating a ‘footfall optimiser’ that will allow Ayr's town, retailers and other important groups to find out exactly what features make a shopping area successful.

Prof Parker added: "High streets at risk should be learning from thriving town centres. Our project aims to provide those struggling with the data they need to make the right decisions to bring around an upward shift on footfall."