Dudley North MP Ian Austin is demanding urgent action to boost the town centre after new figures showed Dudley is one of six towns with most vacant shops.

The research - by retail analysts the Local Data Company - shows Dewsbury, Dudley, Hartlepool, Margate, Stockport and West Bromwich have the highest proportion of empty shops, with vacancy rates of between a quarter and third of all stores, compared to a national vacancy rate of 14.3%.

The company visited all towns in England, Scotland and Wales between January-June 2011.

Ian Austin said:

"These shocking figures underline my call for the council to get things moving in Dudley town centre.

"Local people want to see improvements accelerated and urgent action to smarten the town centre up and attract new stores, and we need fresh thinking and new ideas such as opening up the castle for concerts and plays to attract visitors to the town centre during the summer months."