M&S has announced its longest-ever store opening hours for last-minute Christmas shopping.
In anticipation of December 21-23 being a shopping frenzy, around two-thirds of stores - that's about 400 - will be open until midnight to give customers extra time to grab their festive groceries and final gifts for the big day.
Nearly all the food-only stores and combined clothing and food stores on retail parks - such as the one at Kingsway - will be staying open later.
The company says M&S shops on high streets and in major shopping centres will generally be open until 10pm.
Sacha Berendji, M&S’s retail, operations and property director, said: "We want our customers to be able to shop with confidence this Christmas, which means supporting social distancing in our stores and minimal queuing outside as the weather gets colder.
"To help with this, our Sparks Book & Shop service is now live at every store and we’ll be operating our longest-ever opening hours just before Christmas to help customers purchase everything they need to make the big day special - however they are celebrating - whether it’s picking up the turkey, or collecting a last-minute present they’ve ordered online.
"Along with the wider industry, we continue to ask for Sunday trading hours to be extended to help us increase our capacity to serve everyone safely this festive season.
"To check opening hours visit the Store Finder on the M&S app. Key opening hours are also available at marksandspencer.com/stores.
"Alongside our social distancing measures, which includes carefully counting customers in via a bespoke app, we continue to operate robust hygiene measures in our stores – from hand sanitiser at all entrances to regularly cleaning trolleys and baskets."
