SHOPPERS in Cwmbran are in high spirits after the town centre came third in the nation’s top ten most resilient high streets.

Cwmbran was Wales’ only entry in a Sunday Times shortlist of the most resilient towns in the country, showing growth in footfall and spending over the past three years, despite the recession.

Locals Babs Burnell, 56, and Heulwen Fullagar, 75, don’t even like shopping but say the strength of welcome is second to none."You see the same people and you start talking," Ms Fullagar said.

"I couldn’t tell you what these people’s names are, but you always sit and chat."

Others who heard visitor numbers and spending were still growing despite the recession thought free parking and centre-wide street canopies were also a plus.

Retired carpenter Ralph Powell, 77, said it was ideal for scooters and wheelchairs, while Sitting Pretty Coffee Shop proprietor Susan Reed, 50, thought the mix of independent and chain stores on offer was the key.

"You’ve just got a very large selection of shops, there is obviously a lot of free parking and it’s a nice small, compact town," she said.

On average 85,000 cars and 330,000 people, who are mostly from Gwent but also as far as Gloucestershire, visit weekly.

Weekly visitor numbers rose by 3.2 per cent last year, while a further rise of 3.1 per cent was recorded in the first quarter of 2011.

Centre manager Gerry Hutchings said while it was impossible to gauge exactly how much shoppers were spending, footfall figures alone show Cwmbran is very popular.

He said: "One of the advantages we have got is it’s not just a shopping centre, it’s the town centre - people come because of the bakers, the estate agents and the theatre too.

"We’re very proud of our team here and the town’s success is testimony to the hard work and commitment everyone has put in, and to the loyal support of our customers."