STORE openings have fallen to their lowest level in seven years as online shopping and a slowdown in spending continues to redefine British high streets, figures show.

An average of 16 high street stores closed every day last year - a total over the year of 5,855 - while an average of 11 opened each day, according to research compiled by the Local Data Company (LDC) for PwC.

The average number of daily openings was down from 12 in 2016 and 15 in 2013.

Overall, the number of new high street stores opening in 2017 fell to 4,083, from 4,534 in 2016, with the second half of the year seeing substantially more closures and fewer openings than the first six months.

Beauty product stores, coffee shops, cafes and tearooms and ice cream parlours bucked the trend with the highest increase in net store numbers, while physical bookshops and vaping remained popular.

In Blackburn, shoppers on the high street had differing views on the health of the town centre.

Jordan Burns, 21, from Blackburn said: "We need a lot more shops, but I heard a lot of shops are closing down in the future. There used to be loads of shops back in the day, Blackburn was a really good shopping centre.

"There should be high-end exciting shops, and more fun things to do in the town centre. There are so many coffee shops and food joints, we don’t need any more of them. We need clothes shops. I’d rather go in store and try on clothes, instead of ordering online."

Farmeen Akhtar, 36, from Blackburn, added: "I think it could be better, we’ve got a lot of shops that are closing down now, but it’s got a lot of potential, because we get a lot of visitors.

"But you don’t see a lot of shops open and stay open, and they’re just being overtaken by food places. We’re becoming like an eating zone.

"I’d like to see some designer shops, and there could also be potential for employment as well."

75-year-old Hugh McBurney said: "I don’t like it here in Blackburn town. It’s not as big as London, where I’m originally from. I retired and came up here, and it’s just too small, they need to make it bigger.

"Everything’s closing down now, what’s the difference? I go to Morrisons, I think we need more supermarket chains, like Tesco or Asda."

Linda Smith, 58, from Shadsworth, had a negative view of the town centre.

She said: "I don’t like Blackburn town, I never have. These fancy buildings do nothing for me, because I can’t afford to shop at them. I go to charity shops.

"I want to see more charity shops, and more affordable places to shop at. Primark is about the best affordable shop we have, I get most of my things from there. I like Primark."

But Gillian Sydney, 66, from Burnley, had a more positive impression. She said: "Blackburn is fantastic shopping. We come quite a lot from Burnley, because there is nothing at Burnley. Blackburn has got some fantastic shops, we like Primark and Debenhams.

"But Debenhams is a little expensive really, and not too much variety in there.

"BHS used to be good when it was open, now we don’t have enough shops that sell clothes for our ages. It’s either for really old people or for really young people."

Marty Wensley-Greaves, 21, from Blackburn, said the town needed more variety.

"There’s nothing too much around to do," he said. "There should be places free to access as well, within reason. Other than that, everything else around town is good.

"I’d like to see more music shops though, and things to do with creative outlets, because there’s just not enough of that.

"I know government spending is brassy, but there should be more creative spaces and more music shops.

"It’s kind of silly all these shops are closing, if they were a staple in people’s lives, then those people won’t be able to their daily shop or may have to relocate.”

21-year-old Marco Haworth said: "I go to Blackburn town a lot, I go shopping, the staff are kind, and the town is nice when the weather is good.

"You get different types of people, but it’s a good place, the food is great, the pubs are fantastic, and the cinemas are great too. I’m a big fan of Primark because its cheap, it’s really good.

"I think we need a cheap music shop though, with cheap guitars and cheap drums etc. Also, more bike shops, because most of them are across town."

And Charlotte Wood, 18, from Clitheroe, added: "It’s a nice town and very diverse. It’s nice and friendly and has a good atmosphere.

"It’s small but accepting. The shops are alright, there is a wide variety, but still not a lot of clothes shops around.

"There’s a lot of bakeries and food places instead, so much food. I want to see more high-end clothes stores, like Levi’s, and other branded stores. The shop I do love is Primark."