The Debenhams store in Gloucester may have escaped the chop when the high street giant announced a list of store closures in April, but it could be about to be trimmed.

In prime position in King's Square, the Gloucester Debenhams reportedly has more than 230,000 square feet of shop space over four floors.

And that makes it a prime contender to be downsized.

Debenhams chairman Terry Duddy told the Mail on Sunday this week that the company was looking at its portfolio of stores to see which ones were cost effective for the space they take up.

He said that Debenhams are looking to convert space that they feel could be put to better use and that the ideal size of a store should be around 100,000 sq ft.

"Of the 100 stores, we will be having conversations about what would be the right size for that location, so in some cases we need to be on three floors rather than five," Duddy said.

Mr Duddy was named as interim chairman of Debenhams following the bitter battle for control of the ailing company involving Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley this year.

Mr Ashley attempted to take overall control of the company in April and lost around £150 million in costs of acquiring shares when the company was put in administration.