New data released by Network Rail reveals many people are using the UK's stations to shop, eat and drink, as well as travel.

The statistics obtained using new sensor technology show how many people use stations for purposes other than travel. Some 91 million people entered London's Liverpool Street station during the last 40 weeks and this is expected to reach 119 million for the full year.

This trend is repeated throughout the country, with ten million more people entering the station at Birmingham New Street and 5.6 million more at Manchester Piccadilly.

The data coincides with Network Rail's latest quarterly retail sales figures, which show a healthy 5.6 per cent growth in like-for-like sales from January to March 2014. This is significantly higher than the high street growth of 0.5 per cent during the same period.

Hamish Kiernan, commercial director of retail, Network Rail, said: "These are great results for our retailers and we are delighted that our stations are continuing to give them an edge over the high street."