TV retail guru Mary Portas will pay a visit to Dudley as part of a government study into ailing high streets across the country, it was announced today.

Miss Portas, star of BBC2’s Mary Queen of Shops, will head to Dudley High Street on October 18 to meet with shoppers, traders, councillors and residents about what problems face the struggling town centre and what people see as the solution.

She is in the midst of a study commissioned by David Cameron into the health of the British high street.

She will present her findings to the Prime Minister at the end of the year.

Dudley North MP Ian Austin will also be on hand to guide her around the town.

“Unlike other areas our town centre failed to attract investment in a decade when the economy boomed. This lack of investment has left it in a much weaker position to cope with the effects of the recession,” he said.

“This will be a great chance to listen to her expert opinion on what we can do to improve our town centre.

“Many people from Dudley have contacted me with their suggestions for how we can improve things and I will be sharing these ideas with Mary.

“I hope that the issues we highlight will be taken into consideration when she presents her recommendations to the Prime Minister.

“We have a fantastic heritage to draw on and we should use it to drive regeneration and bring tourism into the town centre.”

Miss Portas’ review is aimed to help identify what government, businesses and local communities can do to develop more prosperous and diverse high streets.

As part of the project, she will advise on how government, businesses and shoppers can tackle the problem of vacant shops, prevent “clone towns” being created and increase the number of small and independent retailers doing business in local town centres.