THE number of empty shops has fallen in Wantage, risen in Faringdon and stayed the same in Botley in the past year.

Vale of White Horse District Council’s cabinet member for economic development Elaine Ware revealed that in Wantage the figure has decreased from 26 units in September last year to 15 units in July – from 14 per cent to eight per cent.

In Faringdon, the number of vacant units increased from one to three in the same period, while Botley has 100 per cent occupancy.

The council is due to undertake a complete survey of shops across the district, including Abingdon, starting next month.