Often seen as one of the worst places to live in the United Kingdom, Middlesbrough is filled with empty buildings vacated by national retailers, with charity shops often taking their place.
Teesside shops are closing down at an alarming rate with Stockton alone having 19 shops close, with just four opening to replace them.
Independent businesses and charity shops seem to be the only ones taking over these empty buildings with national and international retailers focusing on online shopping.
The Portas Review shows the cycle the modern high street and its shops are going through. Fewer people are in the high street because online shopping weakens the performance of the shops which increases the amount of shops going out of business. This then reduces the number of people shopping in the high street.
I went to the heart of Middlesbrough to talk to local business workers on whether charity shops help solve the problems of the modern high street.
Trainee Sports Journalist at Teesside University from Sheffield but currently living in Middlesbrough. Presenter for TUXtra Radio.
