The town's Chamber of Commerce has said it is an 'absolute shame' that Marks and Spencer could be leaving the High Street for good.

M&S said if the proposal to shut its Slough store, currently out to staff consultation, goes ahead, it would close in June.

It made the shocking announcement as part of wider plans to close six stores across the UK, including those in Portsmouth, Wokingham, Warrington, and Worksop.

Gavin Spencer, head of member services at the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce and Slough Chamber Council, said: “The importance of securing jobs for staff affected is essential and we hope that M&S will stay true to their word in relocating everyone involved.

“Investment in Slough town centre is at an all-time high and it’s an absolute shame that such a major landmark store is leaving the area.

“The popularity of online sales has ensured that the great British High Street has and will continue to change beyond recognition.”

M&S said the 60 staff in Slough would be ‘guaranteed’ redeployment at nearby stores, but it fell to them personally to make the decision. The firm also has a Simply Food branded store in Bath Road, Slough, and said customer habits were changing, with more shopping online.

A spokesman for M&S told the Observer however the decision was not ‘set in stone’ and the consultation was ongoing.

The loss of the High Street giant would be a blow to the town, which is undergoing major redevelopment.

The building itself is of a significant size and has been in Slough for decades.

M&S said its plans in Berkshire would centre around a new store in Bracknell to improve the customer experience for shoppers.

Gordon Scott, regional manager for Home Counties South at M&S, said: “We have made the difficult but necessary decision to propose the closure of Slough store. It is not one we have taken lightly and we will now work closely with our colleagues on the consultation.”

“We are committed to offering the very best of M&S for our customers in Berkshire, including near-by stores on Bath Road and in Windsor and the soon to open large Clothing, Home and Food store in Bracknell.”

M&S currently has 959 stores in the UK.