HEREFORD had the biggest increase in store closures in the West Midlands according to figures released by the Local Data Company.

Data directory business LDC said that from January 2017 to January 2018 Hereford saw six high street openings and 20 closures, resulting in a net decline of 14.

This meant that the city fared the worst over the period in the West Midlands, which regionally saw a net loss of 144 stores in 2017.

The decline is around two-and-a-half times worse than 2016, when the region experienced a net loss of 60 stores.

The analysis tracked 5,124 outlets in the West Midlands operated by multiple retailers in 32 town centres across the region. Multiples are retailers that have more than five outlets nationally, so these figures do not cover independent shops.

Andy Lyon, leader of PwC's retail and consumer practice in the Midlands said: "2017 has proved to be one of the toughest trading periods West Midlands retailers have experienced in years - borne out by a 9.1 per cent rise in store closures with high street names such as Twenty One going into liquidation and others such as Maplins and Toys R Us facing the same fate.

"We saw volatility from month to month, and across different sectors as wage growth failed to keep up with inflation - forcing many shoppers to think more carefully about their spending habits."

Mike Truelove, operations manager for Hereford BID, said: "I think it is difficult to comment when I don't know how they collected the information.

"What geographical area did they look at? If they had included the street opposite Steels, there are five or six premises vacant there. But if they included that, would you say that is representative of the city centre? I would say no."

He said in terms of vacancies in the city centre, it has gone up and down over the past three years.

Mr Truelove added: "I think at the moment we are a couple of shops down than we were before."

Cafe Tandem Bakery in Widemarsh Street is closing its doors for good at the end of the month.

Recent closures include Lakeland in Commercial Street, Prezzo and Chimichanga at the Old Market Shopping Centre.

However, a new barber shop has opened in King Street called Maless and a beauty salon called The Address in Broad Street has opened.