by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Queen of Shops Mary Portas, whose televised makeover of a Kent charity shop transformed its fortunes, is to probe the woes of the high street.

The saviour of many a poor-performing retailer has been asked by the Prime Minister to lead an independent review into why so many town centre shops are shutting at an alarming rate.

She will be visiting town centres and events across England - Margate may be on her visiting list as its vacancy rate is among the highest in the land - and present her findings to David Cameron by the autumn.

Her brief is to look at the problem of vacant shops, come up with ideas on how the high street can meet the needs of the modern shopper, explain how to prevent the proliferation of "clone towns", and raise the number of small and independent retailers doing business in town centres.

She aims to identify what government, local authorities and businesses can do to promote the development of more prosperous and diverse high streets.

Mary Portas revolutionised the Save the Children outlet in Orpington. She said: "With town centre vacancy rates doubling over the last two years the need to take action to save our high streets has never been starker. I am calling on businesses, local authorities and shoppers to contribute their ideas on how we can halt this decline in its tracks and create town centres that we can all be proud of."

Mr Cameron said: "Town centres play a vital party in the economic wellbeing of the community and when they are well run they are vital hubs of social interaction and providers of employment and local commerce.

"That is why I am delighted that Mary Portas has agreed to take on this review and I am confident that her straight talking will help us in our drive to create vibrant and diverse high streets."