Online reports that the two St Albans M&S stores will be closing are ‘pure speculation’, says an M&S spokesperson.

It was revealed recently that a shift towards more food-focused M&S stores could see some high street branches close.

The Daily Mail today (Monday) published data from the Local Data Company, which has no affiliation with M&S, and listed stores which could be at risk of closing - including both St Albans and London Colney branches.

But this data is not based on information from M&S or the their stores’ performance, instead it is based on data about the location of the stores.

A spokesperson for Marks & Spencer said: “The list that has appeared in the Daily Mail is pure speculation. It is not based on any M&S data and we have not published any locations.

“What we have done is outlined plans to improve our store estate over the next five years which include opening 200 new food stores and selling clothing and home from 60 fewer stores.”

The Herts Advertiser understands that the data released by the Local Data Company comes under various categories which have been used to calculate which stores are most at risk of closure.

The number of stores in the areas, the number of vacant retail spaces in the area already, the health index of the area, and the level of competition were among the criteria taken into consideration.