The forced closure of non-essential shops in late March has heaped further misery on struggling high streets.

Over the past three months, Cath Kidston, Oasis Warehouse, Monsoon Accessorize and Quiz have all fallen into administration while many retailers, from Debenhams to Clarks to Arcadia, will not reopen some of their stores. Dixons Carphone shuttered all 531 stores during the lockdown.

 These closures further batter a high street that has suffered years of dwindling footfall, spiralling rents and customers migrating to online shopping.