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 will shut for good on July 28, bringing to an end decades of a proud M&S presence in the local trading scene.

The company has also revealed today that 13 other stores across the UK are shutting or lined up for imminent closure.

Altogether the High Street super-traders have earmarked more than 100 store closures over the next four years.

John Dorrington, Head of Region for South West at Marks & Spencer, said of the local shutdown: ‘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.’

M&S will close more than 100 stores by 2022, including 21 that have already closed and 14 others, including Newton Abbot, are announced today.

The immediate reaction from town centre shoppers this morning was one of complete shock.

Jill Catt, from Buckfastleigh, said: ‘I won’t be pleased at all when it closes. I go to Marks and Spencers every time I am in Newton Abbot.’

Suzy Davey, from Newton Abbot, asked: ‘Oh God, do they want Newton Abbot to die?

‘I can’t believe it, the shop is always busy. People come to Newton Abbot from all over because we have got a lot of shops here.’

A former Marks and Spencer employee, who didn’t want to be named, said: ‘The closure is not going to be good for Newton Abbot.

‘It is sad but it’s a sign of the times. It’s a busy store and a lot of older people will miss it.’

Margaret Parkhill, from Northern Ireland, goes to the M&S shop four times a year when she visits her son who lives in the town.

‘I am not happy,’ she thundered.

Elaine and Julie Dowson, from Kingskerswell, complained: ‘There isn’t much in Newton Abbot at the moment. Now there is not going to be much left at all. The town is dying and soon we will end up like Torquay.’

The pair hit out at Teignbridge Council for ‘wasting money’ on revamping the town’s Market Walk shopping centre.

Margaret O’Brien said: ‘Oh no, what a shame. There will be nothing left in the town soon... just coffee shops. There are always large queues in the shop. It’s so sad.’

Karen Carthew and Sue Westaway, M&S regulars, said: ‘It’s such a pity. There will be nothing left. It is very sad – and people will miss it. The prices in the Newton Abbot outlet store arealways better than the main Marks and Spencer shops.’

Town development manager Sally Henley was equally upset.

She said: ‘We have always been very proud of our M&S outlet branch. The store staff are brilliant and I know that many of them have been with M&S and in the Newton Abbot branch for many years.

‘This news will be very upsetting for them I’m sure – and it’s certainly upsetting for me and for the many local and regional customers who value the store and its staff.

‘I am pleased that all of the staff have been offered alternative employment at other stores and that there will be no job losses, but there is no getting away from the fact that this is very sad news for our town.’

She added: ‘These are extremely difficult times for retail in general whether it’s national and well-known High Street brands or smaller independent stores. I urge all of those who proclaim to love shopping in the High Street, to get out there and do just that to help ensure that there are no more casualties.

‘Every pound spent online detracts from the profitability and viability of our beloved high street stores.’

* Store closures announced today are:

· Bayswater (London)

· Clacton (Essex)

· Fleetwood Outlet (Lancashire)

· Holloway Road (London)

· Newton Abbot Outlet (Devon)

M&S UK Store Estate – stores proposed for closure announced today

· Darlington (Durham)

· East Kilbride (Glasgow)

· Falkirk (Falkirk)

· Kettering (Northamptonshire)

· Newmarket (Suffolk)

· New Mersey Speke (Liverpool)

· Northampton (Northamptonshire)

· Stockton (Durham)

· Walsall (West Midlands)