

But one retailer beat this trend, reporting profits of £40m in the final six months of the year. Debenhams closed 50 shops, Toys R Us, Maplin and Poundworld went into administration, and more retail space was lost than in any year since 2008, with 1.9m sq metres closing, according to the property analysts EG.

L ast year saw a bloodbath on the high street.
