High Street Rescue Plan Launched

The Government is setting up a national Future High Streets Forum to save retailers from collapse.

Leaders from retail, property and business aim to find ways of revitalising town centres in England .

Local Growth minister Mark Prisk said:"We shouldn't underestimate the challenge the online market represents.

"It's a growing part of all our habits as consumers. We must make sure high streets adapt.

"Government has a role in that, at looking to make sure, as we are, that we have strong planning, but also councils have a role, businesses have a role, landlords have a role. We want to bring them all together, drive this forward."

The news comes as the administrators of HMV have said that 66 of the music and DVD retailer's stores will close over the next two months.

"This step has been taken in order to enhance the prospects of securing the business' future as a going concern," Nick Edwards, joint administrator at Deloitte, said.

"We continue to receive strong support from staff and are extremely grateful to them for their commitment during an understandably difficult period. All other key stakeholders remain very supportive and I continue to be hopeful of securing a future for the restructured business."

(GK)