Marks & Spencer is to compete with its rival by launching an online food shopping service.

It is set to be launched in the autumn enabling customers to get home deliveries, it is reported in the Guardian newspaper.

With its popular food halls, M&S has decided to tap into the growing online food market.

The company says it has a team looking at the project ready for a trial launch later in the year.

The Guardian says M&S already sells a limited selection of party food and alcohol on its website but this would be the first time its wider grocery offer will be available online