THE Marks & Spencer store in Wokingham could be closing in July.

A spokesman for the store announced today they are currently consulting on the proposals to close the Peach Street store.

Its closure would coincide with the opening of a new store in Bracknell. The announcement is part of wider proposals to close six stores across the UK.

Gordon Scott, regional manager for M&S South, said: “This is something we’ve given a great deal of consideration to and the decision to propose closure is not one we’ve taken lightly.

“We are working closely with our colleagues and, if the closure goes ahead, the majority would join the Bracknell team and continue to serve our customers just a few miles away.”

All 55 colleagues would be guaranteed employment at nearby stores.

The proposed closure of M&S Wokingham is part of M&S’s five-year UK store estate programme announced in November after a full review of its UK store portfolio.

The plans will improve the M&S store estate to better meet customer needs and include opening 200 new Food-only stores and selling Clothing and Home from 60 fewer locations.

The result will be more, conveniently located M&S stores but fewer, more inspirational Clothing and Home stores that offer customers better ranging and availability.

In addition to Wokingham, M&S has also proposed the closure of Monks Cross Simply Food, Worksop Simply Food, Portsmouth, Warrington and Slough stores.

M&S currently has 959 UK stores – 304 full line stores, 615 Food-only stores and 40 Outlets.