Upmarket clothing retailer Burberry will provide a bright spot amid the gloom of Britain's retail sector when it reports an upbeat performance this week. Some of its customers - affectionately called chavs - have continued to open their checked wallets through the consumer downturn even as the peaked cap and hoodie-wearing customers are being banned from malls up and down the country.

The rest of the British high street, however, have been badly affected by the downturn in trading. Analysts have warned that the worst is yet to come.