A MAJOR retailer has confirmed it is to close two of its North-East stores in August.

Marks and Spencer (M&S) announced last month that it was proposing the closures of its Darlington and Stockton stores and it will be consulting with 82 colleagues at its Darlington store, and 45 colleagues at its Stockton store.

The business has now confirmed those proposals will go ahead, and will close both shops in August.

The Stockton store will close on August 11, and the date of the Darlington store's closure is yet to be confirmed - but it will also be in August.

Andrew Crooks, head of region for North-East at Marks & Spencer, said: “Proposing to close our stores in Darlington and Stockton was a difficult decision.

"Over the past few weeks we’ve been consulting with our colleagues and, following this rigorous process, the decision has been made to close both stores.”

“We’d like to thank our customers for the feedback they’ve given the team and we hope to see lots of them continuing to shop with us at our other nearby stores, including Teesside Retail Park, Middlesbrough and West Park Darlington Foodhall which will open later this summer.”

Including Darlington and Stockton, the company announced that 14 stores are proposed for closure or set to close.

Darlington MP Jenny Chapman said: “This news is gutting for the town, but I am still pressing ahead with my meeting in Parliament today with officials from the M&S head office.

"I will be reminding them of the fantastic business they have had from the residents of Darlington over the years and encouraging them to work with us going forward.

"Now is the time for all traders and customers to get behind Darlington’s unique town centre offer.

"I still remain hopeful that Marks and Spencer will retain a presence in Darlington town centre, complementing the brand new store in West Park, opening soon.”

Councillor Bob Cook, leader of Stockton Borough Council, said: “We are really disappointed to find out the M&S store in Stockton is closing imminently – especially as we have been in contact with them about their restructure and transformation programme and offered to work alongside them to find a solution.

"We know that M&S have a 250 year lease on the building and they will have to continue to pay business rates so we are surprised that they have taken this early decision.

“Nevertheless this is a national issue, with 100 M&S stores across the UK also earmarked for closure in the near future.

"We saw this coming and this is exactly why our regeneration of Stockton High Street has been about delivering a town centre that offers different things, and is not just dependent on retail.

"It’s been as much about hosting events, celebrating heritage and creating pleasant spaces as it has been about shopping.

"It’s this ability to adapt which impressed the judges who crowned Stockton High Street the ‘Rising Star’ of the Great British High Street of the Year Awards in 2016.

"In fact just last week retail expert and businessman Bill Grimsey praised the work of the Council ahead of his second report on the state of the British High Street.”