A RECORD 75,000 high street jobs will be lost next year, experts predict.

The toll will top the 74,000 total axed in the 2008 credit crunch as even more household names go bust, they warned.

HMV has already put 2,200 jobs in jeopardy when it fell into administration before the weekend.

Crisis-hit Debenhams, which has 28,000 staff, has lost 90 per cent of its share price amid £491.5million losses and has announced plans to cut 4,000 jobs, along with 50 of its 165 stores.

Mothercare will close 50 stores and cut 800 jobs by June, Asda is considering axing 2,500 jobs and Marks & Spencer will shut 100 shops by 2022.

A survey for VoucherCodes — carried out by the Centre for Retail Research, which accurately forecasted this year’s near-50,000 job losses — blames online shopping and high business rates.

It said fears over a No Deal Brexit are clouding the issue. Director Prof Joshua Bamfield said: “Big names are in trouble.”

Insolvency specialists Begbies Traynor said 30,214 UK retailers are in “significant” financial distress.

Partner Julie Palmer said: “The picture is very uncertain for 2019. Even online is not immune.”