More than a third of funds from a voucher scheme to boost the high street were spent in businesses not forced to close during lockdown, new figures have revealed.

       Almost ￡137 million was spend in 3.7 transactions using ￡100 Spend Local cards as part one of Stormont’s flagship Covid recovery stimulus measures.

       All householders across Northern Ireland were eligible for one of the ￡100 Spend Local cards.

       A new report by the Department for the Economy found that ￡84.9 million (62%) was spent in businesses that had been required by the Covid regulations to close during 2020.

       Conversely some 38% was spent in businesses which had not had to close.

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       Analysis also shows that 87% (￡118m) of funds were spent in retail businesses with a further ￡10m (8%) spent in accommodation and food service businesses, ￡4m (3%) spent on other service activities, and ￡1m (1%) in professional, scientific and technical businesses.

       It found that the average amount spent on activated cards was ￡97.94, and that the busiest day of transactions was Sunday November 14, 2021 when 104,477 transactions were recorded.