BUSINESS in Newton Abbot took a massive hit today with Marks and Spencer’s shock announcement that its retail outlet is to close in July with the loss of 44 town centre jobs.

Shoppers expressed amazement at the big hole the company’s sudden departure from Courtenay Street would make.

‘It’s devastating news. Newton Abbot needs a big name trader like M&S in the town. It’s a huge loss. Lots of people will be very upset,’ was typical of the comments made by townspeople today.

M&S quickly insisted that all 44 employees at the popular venue would be ‘redeployed to nearby stores.’

A spokesman said the closure was part of M&S’s ‘programme to reshape its UK store estate.’

‘M&S remains committed to serving customers in the area through a number of other locations including M&S Torbay, which is six miles away and provides clothing, food and home,’ he said.

The store – which has been an M&S outlet for 10 years, and a retail presence in the town for many decades before that – will shut for good on July 28, bringing to an end 10 years of an M&S presence in the local trading scene.

The company has revealed today a further 13 stores will close. A total of 100 stores across the UK are marked for closure by 2022. Shares in the group have since taken a three per cent tumble.

John Dorrington, Head of Region for South West at Marks & Spencer, said: ‘The decision to close M&S Newton Abbot was a difficult one.’

He stressed: ‘All our hard-working colleagues will be redeployed and continue to serve customers at nearby stores.’

He added: ‘We understand many of our local customers will be disappointed. We will continue to serve the community from our Torbay store.’

Sacha Berendji, Retail, Operations and Property Director at Marks & Spencer said: ‘Closing stores isn’t easy but it is vital for the future of M&S.

‘Where we have closed stores, we are seeing an encouraging number of customers moving to nearby stores and enjoying shopping with us in a better environment, which is why we’re continuing to transform our estate with pace.’