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WATCH: Shoppers speak out over closure plan for Walsall's Marks & Spencer store

Shoppers have spoken of their sadness at the potential closure of Walsall's Marks & Spencer store.

Published
Shoppers at the Marks & Spencer store in Walsall

More than 90 staff at the town centre shop face the loss of their jobs if the closure goes ahead.

Marks & Spencer says it will close more than 100 stores by 2022 as it accelerates a transformation programme that will see thousands of jobs put at risk.

The closures will affect its clothing and home stores, which have under-performed for several years.

WATCH: Shoppers speak out. VIDEO: Juliet Hounam

M&S named 14 stores earmarked for closure on Tuesday, including in London's Bayswater and Holloway Road, with a total of 872 employees affected.

That list includes the Saddlers Centre store in Walsall, where 94 staff work.

Andy Barber, head of region for West Midlands at Marks & Spencer, said: “Proposing to close M&S Walsall has been a difficult decision and we will be fully supporting our loyal colleagues during this process."

It came as Marks & Spencer has seen full-year profits collapse as it counts the cost of the brutal store closure plan.

The retailer reported a 62.1 per cent fall in pre-tax profit to £66.8 million in the year to March 31 as it was dragged down by £321.1 million in costs linked to store closures.