A fresh wave of store closures could wreak havoc for high street shoppers in the run-up to Christmas.

Dwindling footfall, ongoing restructuring plans, and steep rents have compelled numerous chains to close locations.

The latest data from the Centre for Retail Research reveals that nearly 10,500 UK shops permanently closed their doors in 2023, and 119,000 jobs were lost across the sector during the same period.

Closures have continued well into 2024, with 1,846 store closures recorded in the…