Just seven per cent of Mary Portas's High Street rescue fund has been spent, it was revealed Thursday.

Mary Portas, who has made her name as a television retail expert, was hired by the government after she gave review of potential redevelopment ideas for the UK's retail areas.

The data, which was uncovered by retailer Paul Turner-Mitchell, showed that just 25 out of the 72 councils allotted money as part of the £10m scheme have actually spent any of it.

Speaking to the BBC, Turner-Mitchell said: "It's hard to see how council spending from this fund is encouraging innovation. Councils are continuing to throw taxpayers' money at the same stale ideas they've been peddling for years.

"They really are just fiddling while Rome burns and the fact that it's being done under the banner of "innovation" adds insult to injury."

While some councils have been putting the money to good use, such as Wyre Forest District which regenerated 10 empty shops, others, such a Swale Borough Council in Kent, which paid £164.60 for a snow machine.

Another example of local council spend was in Dartford, where £1,160 was spent hiring a performer dressed in a Peppa Pig costume to attract visitors, £7,300 on various surveys, and a further £317.46 at Waitrose.

A spokesperson from the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "We are absolutely committed to reviving the nation's high streets which is why we gave the 100 councils with the highest numbers of empty properties a share of £10m to attract new businesses into their areas.

"We've also extended small business rate relief to help small shops and small firms and have simplified planning restrictions to allow new businesses to set up on high streets.

"We would rather councils spend this money strategically and wisely, to ensure long term success for our High Streets, than rush to spend it and waste taxpayers' money in the process."

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