A street trader who has worked a market stall for almost 30 years says quieter high streets are taking their toll as the cost of living crisis bites.

Chris van Haeften has been selling fruit and veg on Maidstone High Street for more than 26 years.

The vendor says changing consumer trends have started to have an impact.

He said: "It's starting to affect me now because high streets are getting quieter.

"You can see a lot of people walking around in town but it's just a limited amount of shops."

He said that due to the increasing amount of coffee shops and restaurants, the town centre was becoming more of a "social event rather than a shopping environment".

In the run-up to Christmas, many consumers may consider budgeting more effectively and avoid trips to the high street in order to save money.

Chris says that the effect can already be noticed. He said he used to have two or three staff operating the stall with him during the approach to the festive season, but now, it is only him.

He added that one of the problems was "people not having the money to spend on certain items".

According to research by BRC NielsenIQ, 76% of consumers expect to be moderately or severely affected by an increase in the cost of living.

Experts are predicting the cost of gas and electricity could rise by 64% next month. With this sudden increase, consumers are having to choose between high street trips and shopping online.

One Maidstone shopper said she preferred shopping online, that there was "nothing in the high street at all" and "all the shops I would want are gone".

However, another woman said "there's a lot of complications online". She added that sometimes the size of clothes weren't right, and it ended up being more hassle than a trip to town.

Tudor Price, from the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce which supports businesses, said: "I don't think the high street will ever go back to what it was.

"It has been on an evolutionary journey from way before the lockdown and Covid came along."

However, he added: "There is still plenty of room for experienced retail, leisure and hospitality, all of which has a really valued place in the high street and town centre.

"Most local authorities are recognising that now and planning accordingly."