Hundreds of shops are set to close this summer after a sudden rush of administrations and company restructurings put their future in jeopardy.
Retail experts say the spate of closures will trigger a fundamental reshaping of the high street, with the danger that some town centres and small shopping malls could be left nearly empty.
Last week 30 Habitat shops — the chain started by Sir Terence Conran in 1964 — were put into administration and Homeform, the owner of Dolphin Bathrooms and Moben Kitchens, collapsed. The two failures could put 3,700 people out of work.
The future of Jane Norman, the high street fashion chain, hangs in the balance this weekend. Unless its advisers secure a buyer in the next few days, its 200