The soaring temperatures across the UK led to a lower footfall in June as shoppers avoided the heat over the summer period in June.

The latest data from the British Retail Consortium revealed that overall, UK footfall went down by 1.8% between June 1 and July 5, which was a drop from the 1.7% decline in May.

In particular, retail parks experienced the biggest slowdown in traffic, with footfall decreasing by 1.1% compared to a 0.2% increase in the month prior.

Meanwhile, high street footfall went down by 3% in June, which was less than the 2.5% decline reported in May.

However, there was improved retail activity in shopping centres, with footfall going down by 1.6% in June, which was a slight boost from the 2.3% decrease in May.

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Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium said: “Extreme weather meant shoppers stayed away from their local stores last month, leading to a decline in footfall across all three key retail locations.

“High streets were particularly affected as extreme heat was followed by severe thunderstorms, discouraging visits. Subdued consumer sentiment means shoppers remain cautious making it increasingly difficult for retailers to generate strong footfall into their stores.

“However, there were more encouraging signs in some parts of the UK, with Manchester and Birmingham recording positive footfall for the third consecutive month. This is thanks to popular new shops opening and major concerts drawing in crowds.”

Another factor that may have influenced the overall slowdown is the rising inflation, with the BRC and NIQ reporting an increase in inflation in June.