The number of chain shops in the region increased slightly last year, a survey has found.

Figures compiled for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) by Local Data Company found there were 408 store openings by multiple retailers in the East Midlands last year, and 404 closures.

Nationally, the number of store closures outnumbered store openings by 174 in 2011.

The report said 3,000 shops were earmarked for closure during the next three years.

Andy Lyon, partner and retail expert at PwC's Castle Donington office, said: "It is good to see that the region's retail sector is holding its own, with the number of store openings more or less cancelling out the number of store closures in 2011.

"However, retailers in the region are well aware that the market is shifting dramatically and many are rethinking their strategies in order to equip themselves to achieve growth.

"The upturn in online retail sales is bringing increasing costs in areas such as warehousing and this is likely to mean that overheads need to be reduced in other areas."

Official figures released last week showed a month-on-month increase in retail sales of 0.9 per cent in January.