ANDOVER chiefs continued to press the case for Marks & Spencers to stay in the town in a meeting with department store bosses which ended in "frustration".

North West Hampshire MP Kit Malthouse and Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) leader, Councillor Phil North met with M&S retail director Sacha Berendji in Parliament yesterday, in a bid to save the current store where 50 jobs are now at risk.

M&S ruled out ideas such as subdividing the existing store to accommodate a Simply Food outlet, but expressed an interest to keep a "food presence" in Andover elsewhere.

The household name announced it was closing six stores by April and was proposing to cut a further eight, including the Andover branch, on 31 January.

Kit Malthouse said: “I was immensely frustrated by M&S’s position in the light of the ambitious plans for Andover town centre such as the Town Mills Urban Park, the Cultural Quarter and the redevelopment of the Chantry Centre.

"This frustration was only exacerbated by M&S staff relaying to me that they had been told that Andover was the best performing store in the region.

"We were at least given commitments that, if the store does close, then the future of the staff will be a priority consideration.”

M&S also believes it could sublet its existing store to a High Street multiple if closure did proceed, which cllr North said despite his "profound disappointment", TVBC would help fill that unit as leaving it empty for a prolonged period of time was unacceptable.

Cllr North said: “It was particularly galling to hear past under-investment being given as a reason for M&S’s problems in Andover. Their proposals to close stores ranging from Andover to Covent Garden demonstrate how they are struggling with the changing nature of the High Street.

"Their commitment to shifting much of their business online nationally should not in my view preclude them from retaining a food offer in Andover High Street.

"However, we must now look to the future and do the very best that we can for Andover.”