The warning comes from the Federation of Small Business (FSB), which says small shops are being pushed out by multiple retailers.

The FSB and Friends of the Earth are continuing to encourage people to do their Christmas shopping at local independents.

An FSB spokesman said:

"The decline of our high streets should be given urgent attention. If we want our independent shops to be around next Christmas we have to support them.

"They offer the wealth of variety and originality that the big faceless shopping centres cannot match."