Call for taxes to be made fairer as nearly 50 shops vanish each week

Nearly 50 shops are vanishing every week from the UK high street and more will be forced out of business unless taxes are reformed to cover online retailers, experts have warned.

The burden of sky-high business rates - which have soared since the controversial revaluation on April 1 - is seen as contributing to the plight of bricks-and-mortar retailers while online rivals are flourishing.