Marks & Spencer is planning to close one in four of its stores selling clothing and homeware.

In their place, it is set to open more than 100 new Simply Food outlets, as it speeds up its turnaround plan, as reported by The Guardian.

M&S, which has stores in Cheltenham and Gloucester, said the plan wouldn't necessarily see it leave a town altogether, but could see it replace an older high street store with a new outlet at an out-of-town retail park.

The retailer said its target is of 180 "full-line" shops - selling its full range of food, clothing and homeware products - by early 2028, down from its current 247.

At the same time, it intends to open 104 new Simply Food stores.

The plans come at a time when online purchases are accounting for nearly 50 per cent of M&S sales.

Like other retailers, Marks & Spencer has been hit by rising energy costs. Energy costs this year are already £40m higher than planned and could cost more than £100m by 2023.

With 80 per cent of its energy usage coming from its stores, M&S will focus on cutting the cost of refrigeration and lighting.