BRIERLEY Hill has made the list of Marks and Spencer branches thought to be at risk of closure.

The retailer announced it would be shutting 30 stores and turning another 45 into Simply Food branches last week but has not revealed which stores could close.

However retail analysts at Local Data Company have released a list of towns and cities that they believe are at risk of losing their branches, which included Brierley Hill, where there are two M&S stores at the intu Merry Hill shopping centre.

M&S has had no input into the list and the stores vulnerable to closure have been identified using a series of sophisticated measurements to understand the economic health of the high streets.

LDC director Matthew Hopkinson said: "There are 35 towns and cities that have more than two M&S stores either on the high street, in a shopping centre or on the edge of town in a retail park.

"If one removes the large urban centres such as London, Glasgow and other cities, there are 22 towns where one might question the need for two stores.”

However, a spokesperson for Marks & Spencer said the list was “pure speculation” and added: “We are very disappointed that anyone would choose to speculate in this way.

“This list 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.”