SAD times are ahead for some of the shops we grew up with and loved. More and more retailers are going to the wall as a combination of business rates, online shopping and changing tastes leave them in debt and out of time.

Darlington, in particular, is suffering from a series of devastating blows to the high street, with the proposed closure of the town’s Marks & Spencer and Binns stores, and Marks is also shutting in Stockton. The Body Shop closed its Cornmill branch earlier this year. Darlington Borough Council insists the town centre is still thriving and prominent business owners are looking to come up with ideas for the “I’m backing Darlington” campaign, but with news that Poundworld is in administration and New Look are in trouble, is the end nigh for high street shopping?

"I’m often asked what I think this means for the high street in general," says James Walker, founder and CEO of Resolver, who writes weekly columns for a number newspapers, and is frequently called upon to provide guidance and commentary on consumer issues for both regulators and the Government. "Are we looking at boarded-up shops and graffiti where once we met and socialised while doing the shopping? What does this mean for our communities?

"In truth, no-one knows what will happen next. But if you want to fight for your right to shop on the high street, here are a few tips on how to support your local businesses and brands.

• Exploit online shops. You can get anything online, but if you’re buying clothes let's be realistic – often they won’t fit and other goods might not live up to the photo when they arrive. A recent report suggested that half of all goods ordered online were returned. So do your browsing online, find something you like and buy on the high street.

• Socialise. Shops know they have to adapt or die, so loads of them now have cafes, cake and places to chill. A lot of these spaces are better than most chain cafes and restaurants (and have better views or ambience). Meet friends and family for a chat and a snack in one and keep those tills ringing.

• Customer service. Yes, yes, we know the big online retailers have got everything and it’s all cheap, but often their customer service is rubbish. Increasingly, they’re making it harder for you to interact with an actual human being and many are actively looking to automate some services and replace other staff with robots. So why not have a monthly or weekly embargo on using online shops. Once you break the habit, it’s surprisingly easy.

• Support your local retailer. It’s harder than ever to be an independent shop. I’d love to see the end of extortionate business rates and other unnecessary costs that are driving some to extinction. A good way to show your support to an independent business is to spread the word among friends and family. Peer recommendations are the most important form of advertising. Tell people about the places you love to help keep them in business, mention them on your social media pages, give them a shout out to your mates.

• Take out cash and hit the market. Local markets are the lifeblood of many cities and towns. Your fruit and veg are likely to be cheaper bought from there too. It’s a bit of a myth that supermarkets make life easier for us. They’re often overpriced and a rip-off. Chances are you can get two-thirds or your weekly shop from a market in one go – so get haggling.

• Check out a collective. Increasingly, shops are banding together to share costs and save on services. This might involve setting up in shared premises, having a collective online website or shopping portal, working together to provide goods and services for one another and many more creative ways to work together. Check online for the collectives near you.

• Be selfish. Yes, you heard that right. A popular high street with independent retailers and restaurants can add serious cash to your property value. Plus, it makes your home town somewhere to be proud of. As always, the fun police are never far away, so make sure you support cafes and restaurants that want tables outside their venues, bright or quirky designs on stores and maybe a cheeky but funny billboard or advertising slogan too.

"I’d love to hear your tips and suggestions for keeping your high street alive, so get in touch," adds Walker.

*If you’re worried about a business going bust, you can get advice at resolver.co.uk - and send your stories about consumer issures to yourstories@resolver.co.uk.