MARKS and Spencer has announced it plans to close its store in Weston-super-Mare.

The outlet is among 17 proposed closures as part of a five-year plan to close more than 100 stores by 2022.

The 1,045 staff at the doomed stores are in a consultation process over their jobs.

M&S has already closed 30 shops with another eight earmarked to shut as the company attempts to move a third of its sales online.

As well as the Weston store, the closures announced this week are Ashford, Barrow, Bedford, Boston, Buxton, Cwmbran, Deal, Felixstowe, Huddersfield, Hull, Junction One Antrim Outlet,

Luton Arndale, Newark, Northwich, Rotherham and Sutton Coldfield.

M&S has pledged not to close any of the stores until a staff consultation is complete and intends to retain "as many people as possible".

Retail, operations and property director Sacha Berendji said: "Proposing to close stores is never easy, for our colleagues, customers or the local community, but it is vital for the future of M&S.

"Where we have closed stores, we are continuing to see an encouraging number of customers choosing other nearby locations and shopping on M&S.com."