BOLTON town centre bosses are confident that late-night shopping at the Trafford Centre will not affect their businesses.

The Trafford Centre has announced that it has extended weekday opening hours until 10pm indefinitely, making it the only shopping centre outside London to open that late all year round.

But Bolton's shopping bosses believe this will not have any effect on their trade because of the range of shops available in the town centre and their own extended Christmas opening hours.

They also claim that the amount of heavy traffic around the Trafford Centre deters shoppers from making trips there.

Rod Neasham, manager of the Market Place in Bolton, said: "I do not think the Trafford Centre opening hours will make a difference at all. Our customers visit the Trafford Centre on average five or six times a year and I don't see that increasing because they are opening until 10 pm. They will still use us every week.

"With all the traffic they have in that area, I can't imagine they will get much support.

"The Trafford Centre is a different type of operation to the town centre."

Trafford Centre chiefs expect their new 12-hour trading day will boost customer numbers. Nearly 40 per cent of the Centre's daily visitors shop after 6pm.

Centre bosses claim independent research found that 92 per cent of the Centre's visitors said they would probably visit more frequently if it was open longer.

Cathy Savage, Bolton Town Centre Manager, said: "To be honest, I don't really think this will make any difference to Bolton Town Centre. If people are going to visit the Trafford Centre, they will do so anyway.

"We've got late night shopping here for people looking to do their Christmas shopping. We have most of the shops they have in the Trafford Centre right here, such as British Home Stores, Marks and Spencer and Boots. The only difference with the Trafford Centre is that they have some specialist shops.

"We have more variety in the town centre. People will be able to buy what they want in Bolton."

Christmas opening hours in Bolton, as suggested by the town centre company, are:

Sunday opening: up until and including December 29: 11am to 5pm.

Thursday late nights: open to 8pm, then from Thursday, November 18, open to 9pm until Christmas.

From December 16 (except on Thursdays and Sundays) shops will open each day until 7pm, then on Monday, December 23, shops will stay open until 8pm.