IT is a snapshot of how the recession has hit home in an idyllic corner.

Traditionally seen as Meccas for small businesses, town and village centres across the New Forest are showing signs of the economic crisis.

Figures have revealed one in ten shops in the middle of key communities in the Forest are lying empty and the percentage has more than doubled in the last five years.

The most alarming rise was in the centre of Totton.

Despite being at the gateway to the National Park, the town has seen an 11 per cent rise in the number of empty premises in just four years. A recent count showed 15 per cent were deserted compared to just four per cent in 2005.

New Milton, Lymington, Milford, Hythe, Ringwood and Fordingbridge were also included in the report, drawn up by New Forest District Council (NFDC).

The statistics revealed there had been a two-per cent increase in disused shop fronts overall since 2008.

Council bosses have blamed the nationwide recession rather than any specific problems with the regional economy.

And they said the closure of a number of Woolworths stores across the district also made an impact on the statistics – though two outlets have since been filled.

NFDC’s finance chief, Cllr Colin Wise, said: “The statistics are very concerning.

“Certainly we need to try and keep high streets alive and thriving.

“I think it is a national trend rather than just a New Forest problem – one key example has been the withdrawal of Woolworths.”

This year, nine per cent of village centre units were vacant in Hythe while nearly eight per cent were empty in Lymington.

Geoffrey Gook, who has run a clothing shop on Hythe High Street for 47 years, said the conditions were the toughest he had ever experienced.

The Hythe Business Partnership member added: “Footfall is certainly down and at the same time rates and rent are still going up.

“It is a continual battle to get the best possible deals, but on the flip side you can’t make deals on things like rent and rates.”

Meanwhile in the middle of New Milton vacant units were below the average of 10 per cent with just seven per cent of the town’s shops remaining empty this year.

However, compared to 2004 – when just below four per cent of shops were empty in the town – the figures have risen.

Ros Bowles, New Milton Town Council’s town development officer, said: “New Milton has fared a lot better than some other town centres.

“We have had very strong interest shown in the vacant units and have had a large number of new shops open up in the town over the past year.”

The neighbouring seaside village of Milford-on-Sea has just over 11 per cent of their units empty this year according to the report. Lynda Hynd, assistant parish clerk at Milford on Sea parish council said: “As a whole the village has maintained its trade levels fairly well but I believe it is the cafés that have been suffering, as many visitors have been cutting out the little luxuries they used to have.

“Regulars are still coming into the village to shop but it is those who solely go to the bigger supermarkets that it would be nice to encourage them to use the village a little more.

“Overall, while the recession has had an affect on the village, I believe that as a small village we have fared quite well in comparison to other places.”

Ringwood has eight per cent of their town centre shops empty this year, the highest number they have seen since 2002 while in Fordingbridge 11 per cent of shops are currently lying unused compared to just under nine percent last year.

NFDC’s employment and tourism manager Tony Climpson said the authority’s ‘Brand New Forest’ campaign was aiming to find ways of helping businesses.

He said: “Whilst the statistics are worrying – as any increase in vacancies is worrying – in relative terms compared to other parts of the country the position is better. However, that is no reason for complacency.

“We need to focus on the needs of the local economy and make sure it is resilient.”