With the closure of Woolworths, Firkins and Tylers in Kingswinford, Cathy Spencer finds out the benefits of ditching the supermarkets and using local shops.

The A491 through Kingswinford may be busy with passing cars, but very few of the drivers stop to do any shopping.

In the last few months three stores on the busy road have closed their doors and shop owners are worried about the future of the village.

Today analysts have said that 72,000 stores across the UK could be putting up the shutters this year, which is almost 200 a day.

Experian, a business analyst, says the number of vacant shops is expected to more than double from 63,000 in December to a record 135,000 by the end of 2009.

It is small market towns that are predicted to feel the worst effects, turning many into ghost towns deserted by both major chains and independents.

Plus, any future closures will bring huge job losses with some analysts suggesting that as many as 135,000 shop workers will join the rising unemployment total.

Marks & Spencer today reported its worst quarterly trading performance for a decade and announced that it is cutting around 1,230 jobs in a bid to save money in a tough trading environment.

The 125-year-old department store said its like-for-like sales fell 7.1 per cent in the third quarter of its financial year.

Yesterday saw the closure of the last of Woolworths’ 807 stores, following 99 years of trading, bringing the loss of 27,000 jobs.

This week, Adams closed 111 stores employing 850 people, while some or all of the outlets operated by MFI, Rosebys, The Officers Club and others have gone in recent weeks.

Jonathan de Mello of Experian says: “The unprecedented level of retail vacancy will be disproportionately spread across Britain, so that smaller retail destinations, in particular market towns, will be worse affected.

“Britain is still a nation of shopkeepers and the retail sector is one of the UK’s largest employers. It is not just people directly employed by retailers that will suffer, but also suppliers and service providers.”

But shop owners say if people are worried about the credit crunch, visiting their local stores will save them money.