Barrow's Marks and Spencer store has escaped the chain's new proposed closure list.

It was revealed in November last year that dozens of Marks and Spencer stores in the UK were to shut as part of a radical shake up, raising concern locally.

Speaking on the 14th of that month, Matthew Hopkinson, director of the Local Data Company, said he believed that both Carlisle and Barrow’s M&S stores were at risk of closure due to the “health” of the high street.

However, M&S has today revealed it is proposing to close six stores in other parts of the country.

Although our local stores have not yet been earmarked for closure, we approached M&S for a comment on whether the shop's longer-term futures are secure.

An M&S spokeswoman told us: "There are certainly no further announcements that are going to be made today."

"This is a five-year programme though, and things could change", she added.

M&S is now consulting with colleagues and their representatives over the proposed closure of stores in Portsmouth, Slough, Warrington and Wokingham.

In addition, consultations are also being held at the Worksop and Monks Cross branches, which are both Simply Food stores.

Steve Rowe, Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer, said: “M&S stores will always be an integral part of our customer offer, working seamlessly alongside our website, M&S.com, to deliver great products and service to our customers.

"However, our customers’ shopping habits are changing. Picking up food for now or tonight rather than doing one big shop or browsing and shopping online and collecting in store are great examples of this and we are committed to adapting our business so that we stay in tune with our customers.

"Each proposal we make will be very carefully considered with our colleagues and customers firmly front of mind. It is our intention that nobody leaves M&S and we will work as hard as possible to ensure that we can deliver against this promise.”

Phil Collier, manager of Barrow’s Business Improvement District, said that it was not “realistic” that M&S would opt to close the store in the town.

Speaking when the news of potential closures was revealed last year, he said: “I think it’s fair to say that if Barrow’s M&S were to close then it would have a huge impact on our high street."