My App Store keeps struggling to load up. Requests frequently time out and searches just don't do anything. If it does load up a search, the iPad closes down App Store, returns to home screen and, upon re-opening, the search has been deleted. Help please?

I've had my iPad (retina display) since last year. Over the last few weeks the App Store struggles to load on occasion and times out completely. When searches do rarely complete, the App Store closes down and returns my iPad to the home screen and, when I open the App Store again, it has just reset the store, forcing it to load all over again. I've tried closing all running background applications, with no difference being made. Any help would be greatly appreciated.