More than one in four shops in Blackpool are empty, a new report revealed today.

Nationally, one in seven shops have remained vacant over the past year and there is unlikely to be a significant improvement because of the current economic climate, said the Local Data company.

The research group's study of 1,000 towns and cities found that the three-fold increase in vacancy rates since 2007 had stopped, but some retail centres had one in three shops closed, while others remained at pre-recession levels.

Matthew Hopkinson, director at the Local Data Company, said: "This report shows how fragile the British High Street is in parts of the country.

"The pressures it faces are increasing and therefore one needs to be realistic in one's approach to each and everyone of these towns if they are all to have a future.

"The stark reality is that Great Britain has too many shops in the wrong locations and of the wrong size."

Liz Peace, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said: "Many of the high streets and town centres are in a critical, but stable condition.

"Their recovery is not just going to happen, but will need nursing.

"We must find new ways to get people on to our high streets and in our local shops."