Britain's high streets have been in decline for years but little shows the true extent of the crisis like the agonising tale of Debenhams.
Once a stalwart of the British shopping experience and the anchor around which other stores could thrive, the bedraggled shells of former Debenhams stores now litter this country's streets.
Around 12,000 jobs were lost when the company went into liquidation in 2021. Fenced off or boarded up, many of them are covered in graffiti. Others have already been torn down or cloaked in scaffolding as they wait to be converted into flats.
Although Boohoo has bought the Debenhams website and name, none of the department stores have ever reopened — meaning the death of yet another high street brand.
Tragically, shoppers who enjoy the experience of leaving their bedrooms and getting some fresh air before trying products in person are a dying breed. This has led to some town centres becoming dangerous havens for vandals and drunks.
