RETAILERS are hoping festive cheer in the run-up to Christmas will help boost the regional economy.

Hopes of an autumn upturn on the high street receded this week when a string of national shops warned that sales remained in the doldrums.

Music and books retailer HMV and the owners of electric goods firm Comet were among the big names with stores in Worcester that reported a decline.

But in what seems to be an increasing trend, individual stores are also being affected, with some closing down.

Just last week, the Worcester News reported how seven out of 26 units in Reindeer Court were empty - mainly because the former occupants were not making enough money to cover the rent.

And in London Road by the Tesco Express garage, three businesses within metres of each other have shut. Worc-ester Computer Services, a gents' salon and another computer repair shop are all boarded up.

Worcester city councillor David Clark closed his firm Sheraton Gifts in Reindeer Court this summer and was not surprised others were doing the same. He said: "It doesn't matter who you talk to, they will all say the same thing. There are a lot of shoppers around but they just aren't buying.

"The state of the regional economy is not good. It all started last Christmas when people realised exactly how much they owed on their credit cards. And with house prices slumping people haven't got that equity anymore to borrow on."

"It doesn't surprise how many empty units there are in Worcester."

Christopher Harvey, head of policy and lobbying at the chamber of commerce Here-fordshire and Worcestershire agreed that there were some problems, but that companies could do things about it.

He said: "Another major factor for the problems on high street retailers is the success of online retailing and the supermarkets.

"Groups such as HMV need to ask why customers would be prepared to visit them, when the most popular music is available more cheaply from other sources.

"It is likely that similar factors, such as the decline in value of many brands as manufacturing technologies impr-ove, that are also affecting established retail groups.

"Why would you pay more for an item with exactly the same specification as the cheaper version?

"This phenomena has affected everything from computers to clothes."