Geordies in shops woe

ONE in five shops in the North East of England is empty, a new report says.

The British Retail Consortium says the 19.7% figure for 2021’s third quarter is the UK mainland’s highest, with an average vacancy rate of 14.5% nationwide.

Fashion retailer Vanessa Stephenson, of Jesmond, Newcastle, said the exit of giants like Debenhams and Arcadia had left “massive holes” too big for any independent stores to take on.