Boosting London’s night-time economy could be the key to saving high-streets in the capital, a report has claimed.

The report, by the Night Time Commission, which was created by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan in 2017, suggests opening libraries, markets, parks, museums and shops past 6pm could be the key to tackling a decline in the high-street.

In the first half of 2018 alone more than 24,000 shops, restaurants and pubs in high streets across the UK closed and in the last decade London has lost 39 per cent of its clubs and 17 per cent of its bars.

The chairman of the Night Time Commission, Kate Nicholls, described London’s night time economy as a “dynamic and diverse success story”, but stressed the need to expand it.

Ms Nicholls said: “We believe the capital can be so much more at night – with more chances to shop, to rest, to explore, to innovate and to grow.

“We can extend the opening hours of our traditional cultural offerings to reach more Londoners and we can bring underused spaces to life at night and help tackle the decline of our high streets.”

The report also makes a number of other recommendations to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to boost the night-time economy.

These include working with boroughs to make then “vibrant night-time and public spaces” and setting up an “enterprise zone fund” to allow borough to bid for money which had can help them develop their night-time economy.

The report also calls for a “late-night transport working group” to ensure night workers can get to and from work safely.

Green Party London Assembly Member Caroline Russell also welcomed the report but raised the issue of wages.

Ms Russell said: “It’s disappointing that there is no recommendation about pay in today’s report for people working at night, when over half of million of them are already paid below the London Living Wage.

“The Mayor needs to offer support to employers in the Night Time Economy, especially precarious cultural enterprises, to help them pay their staff properly as outlined in his own Good Work Standard.”

London’s night-time economy employs 1.6 million people – making up one third of London’s workforce.

Research also found that two-thirds of Londoners are regularly active at night, including running errands and socialising and that there has been an increase in restaurants, cafes and takeaways open at night.