THE Hexham branch of M&S may close, according to a new announcement made today.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, February 27, M&S announced to its staff that it was considering proposals to close the Maidens Walk store in Hexham due to changing shopping habits.

The announcement follows the news earlier this year that M&S plans to close dozens of stores across the UK over the next five years, which is hoped will save the business millions of pounds.

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Philip Barker-Thomson, M&S regional manager, said: "Shopping habits are changing, so we’re rotating our store estate to make sure we have the right stores with the right space to offer customers a brilliant shopping experience. As part of this transformation, we have today announced to colleagues our proposal to close the M&S Hexham store at Maidens Walk.

"Our priority now is to talk to our colleagues about what this announcement means for them. Should the proposals go ahead, we will offer them alternative roles with M&S wherever possible.

"Over the last year alone, we have invested £13 million in our stores in the North East, including a full renewal of our store in Newcastle city centre and the upcoming opening of our new Washington Galleries store later this spring.

“We would like to thank all our customers who have shopped in the store, and we will be working hard to keep serving them in our other stores across the North East and online at marksandspencer.com."