Trowbridge shoppers spoke of their sadness as their local Marks & Spencer is due to close today, with the loss of 29 jobs.

The Simply Food store, which opened in The Shires shopping centre on June 29, 2006, is one of 25 UK stores earmarked for closure due to the economic downturn.

Shoppers flooded into the store this morning looking for bargains, but said they were concerned to see a high street favourite vanish from the town.

James Augustin, 60, who works in the recycling industry and lives in North Bradley, said he was very sad about the closure.

“I see so much of this, so many shops closing down,” he said.

“What people want to know about this recession is where rock bottom is.

“When they know that then they will be able to see when things are getting better. I think it is very sad about Marks and Spencer as it is a high street institution.”

Trowbridge resident Stephanie Bloodworth, 27, who works in insurance in the town, said: “I think losing Marks and Spencer will be a big deal for the town.

“I work in Trowbridge so it is very handy for lunch and it is always very busy.

“I know everyone I work with is very upset about it closing.”

Earlier this year, Stuart Rose, chairman of M&S, said they had looked at every opportunity to keep the Trowbridge store open but in the tough trading environment it was no longer commercially viable.

Staff at the store would not comment on the closure yesterday.

Marks & Spencer announced it was closing 25 of its 355 Simply Food stores throughout the UK earlier this year, with its outlet in Marlborough also due to close today.