Shops desert town's high street

The number of empty shops in the High Street has more than doubled

The number of empty shops in a south of Scotland town's main street has more than doubled in the past four years.

Nearly 18% of stores are now sitting empty in Queensberry Square and the High Street in Dumfries - compared with less than 8% in 2005.

The increase has been even sharper in the town's English Street where the rate has gone from 2% to more than 10%.

A report to Dumfries and Galloway Council says the rise has been recent and is blamed on credit difficulties.

A bid is currently under way to secure Scottish Government funds to help regenerate Dumfries town centre.

Vacancy rates

Details contained in the report on another main shopping street - Friars Vennel - show the shop vacancy rates for the past four years.

The High Street, Queensberry Square and English Street have seen significant increases in the problem.

In Friars Vennel itself - where upgrade works have been carried out in recent years - the levels have stayed almost unchanged.

However, despite the use of compulsory purchase orders to try to address the situation it still has more than one in six commercial properties left vacant.