Signs of movement at the former M&S in Deal has sparked speculation that change is afoot.

The lights inside the building have been on for a number of days and an estate agent’s board has been erected on the façade.

An electrician has also been seen on site and given permission to Deal’s Chamber of Trade (CofT) to erect a Christmas tree on its exterior.

Peter Jull, chairman of the CofT, believes the marketing board suggests M&S's negotiations with an alternative retailer may have fallen.

Although, he acknowledges, the store isn't listed on the agent’s website unlike M&S’s closed stores in other towns.

But M&S told KentOnline in August that negotiations over the future of the building were at “advanced stages” and confirmed today that that was still the case.

A spokesman said: "We hope to provide an update with the community as soon as we can."

M&S in Deal closed on Saturday, April 27 after 82 years of trading.

The closure was part of the retailer's programme to re-shape its UK store estate.

It came as a huge loss to the town whose residents rallied to try and save the store with both online and paper petitions.

McMullen Real Estate is yet to provide a comment.

Read more: All the latest news from Deal