Riots accelerate high street decline

Senior business leaders have warned that last week's riots could send some of Britain's most troubled

high streets into a downward spiral if traumatised shopkeepers decide to walk away.

Hundreds of stores were looted and in some cases destroyed by fire during the spree of violence and theft that insurers say will cost £200m to mop up. The recession has accelerated high street decline, with a government-sponsored review, led by retail guru and TV presenter Mary Portas, charged with coming up with ideas of how to foster "more prosperous and diverse" town centres.

With one in seven UK shops lying empty, the clock is ticking. Stephen Robertson, the director of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), says: "Our biggest fear is that otherwise successful retailers are pushed into insolvency by the events of last week. The retail sector has been battling difficult trading conditions for much of this year and sadly for some shops these attacks will be the final straw."