A MULTI-million pound programme to expand Marks & Spencer's store in Watford will begin next month.

The development, which starts on February 2, will see the store expand into the the old Littlewoods building.

The move is part of Marks & Spencer's three-year expansion programme costing £2.1 billion, of which more than £1.7 billion will be spent in the UK development, creating around 5,000 jobs.

Manager of the Watford store, Mr Arthur Rodd, said: "Our expansion into the Littlewoods store represents a continuing investment in Watford.

"The additional space will enable us to offer customers a wider choice of merchandise and improved services and facilities."

"The new store, which will be unveiled later this year, will add a new dimension to the town centre, and we are confident that customers will be delighted with the enhanced store."

Littlewoods in Watford, which will close on Saturday, January 31, is one of 19 stores across the UK bought by Marks & Spencer in July for a total of £192.5 million.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.