John Timpson, chair of the Timpson shoe repair chain, was asked by the government to look at the future of the High Street.

His report calls for High Streets to help themselves with each town centre having a task force to solve its own issues.

"I hope I've persuaded the government they should let people get on and do it for themselves," he told BBC Breakfast.

The government is there to clear away obstacles, he said, referring to planning rules.

And, he said, it was not just about High Streets but the whole town centre.

"It's pretty obvious there are probably about twice as many shops as we need in this country and we are short of housing. There's a pretty obvious message there," he said.