RETAILERS fear Glasgow's oldest street could become a series of empty shops.

Worried traders in High Street have now set up an association to defend themselves from their own landlord amid concerns rent increases and tough new lease conditions are driving them out of business.

Dan Taylor is about to open a cafe just off High Street – in two shops rented from City Property, the arm's length organisation set up to run what used to be the council's portfolio of commercial premises.

He said: "Every month, the area where my cafe McCune Smith is located grows more and more like a graveyard of small businesses."

Mr Taylor is a member of the High Street Merchants' Association, a body set up to represent City Property tenants.

The 35-year-old entrepreneur says one retailer, which asked not to be named, has been told it must make tens of thousands of pounds of repairs to the property in order to secure a new lease.

Mr Taylor said: "If they sign their lease they will be liable for extensive repairs and if they don't they will lose their business.

"What the council should be doing is working with the shop to fix the problems for the benefit of everyone concerned.

"But instead, what the council is going to do is put it out of business."