The British Retail Consortium (BRC) says the number of people going to shops has dropped and it wants a change in business rates to help boost the high street.

BRC data suggests footfall in UK shops dropped 2.9 per cent in February compared with 12 months before, while its three-month average was also down 1.1 per cent.

High street footfall has been particularly hit, with shopper numbers down 5.3 per cent over the year, the largest decline since March 2013.

The disappointing figures come after an increase in footfall in the January sales.

The BRC’s Helen Dickinson said: "Our data is now building up a rich picture of how retailers created an exceptional and successful promotional period this January, but having taken advantage of those deals, some consumers have taken a little bit of a pause in their shopping in February.

“This underlines how important it is we keep our focus on reform of business rates to keep costs down. Reform will help high street retailers invest in their offer and attract more people out to the shops.”