M&S, an "integral" part of the town, has today announced that it is closing its store in the Kingfisher Shopping Centre.

All 66 colleagues who work at the branch will be moving to nearby stores, the company has told the Advertiser.

A spokesman said the closure is part of M&S’s programme to modernise its UK store estate to better meet the changing needs of customers.

Sacha Berendji, director of Marks & Spencer, said:“We’re committed to transforming M&S for our customers, colleagues and shareholders. Stores will always be an integral part of our customer experience, alongside M&S.com, but we have to ensure we have the right offer in the right locations.

“We believe these changes are vital for the future of M&S and we will continue to accelerate the programme, taking tough but necessary decisions, as we focus on making M&S special.”

Andy Barber, M&S head of region for the West Midlands, said: “Closing our store on Walford Walk in the Kingfisher Centre is not a decision we’ve taken lightly and I understand that some customers will be disappointed by the news."

However, we’re committed to offering the best of M&S in the area and I’m pleased that our colleagues will be staying with us and moving to nearby stores.”

Ken Williams, general manager at Kingfisher Shopping Centre, said: "Following the announcement from M&S today, we can confirm that the M&S store at Kingfisher Shopping Centre is due to close by the end of April.

"We will be sorry to see M&S leave Redditch as it has been an integral part of the town and has served our community well over the years.”

Nearby stores include Longbridge (which opened in 2015), Solihull and the recently opened Foodhall in Moseley.

As well as Redditch, M&S has announced five other stores that will close at the end of April and a further eight that are proposed for closure.

M&S currently has 1,025 stores – 302 clothing, home and food, 684 food-only and 39 outlets.