Office rentals are still going strong in the centre of Manchester, flouting the downward trend in other major cities.

According to a property firm Colliers CRE , 500,000 sq ft of office space was rented in the first six months of the year.

Now that figure stands at nearer 790,000 sq ft, which was a two-year high, reported the Manchester Evening News.

Many businesses had considered Manchester good for back office operations, Colliers CRE said.

"For back office functions the likes of Allied London's Spinningfields development provide the ideal base," said Colliers director of offices, Stephanie Mullenger.