Marks & Spencer is closing around 30 stores in the UK, it's been announced.

Around 45 clothing and home shops will be downsized or converted into Simply Food stores following a fall in profits.

It is not clear yet if any stores in Kent will be affected.

Kent has 21 stores, including those outlets at motorway or petrol stations and its food stores.

The move comes two years after the clothing giant closed its Gravesend store.

Chief executive Steve Rowe has been forced to announce its biggest shake-up for years.

He is also shutting 53 stores across 10 international markets, including 10 in China and seven in France.

Details of the restructure came as it said underlying pre-tax profits fell 18.6% to £231.3 million in the six months to October 1.

But the company announced it is opening another 200 of its smaller Simply Food outlets.