Marks & Spencer has announced it will shut another 110 stores as it posted a 10 per cent drop in profits. The retail firm, which has branches across Cumbria, said around 85 full stores and 25 Simply Food outlets would close.

It is not known which stores will be part of the closure programme, which follows on from 35 branches closed over the last 12 months.

But it said the overall size of the chain will remain in line with plans as it also opens and relocates shops.

It posted underlying pre-tax profits of £523.2 million for the year to March 30, down 9.9 per cent from £580.9 million the previous year.