Gutted shoppers walked into the store in Swindon for the last time today before it shut for good.

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The branch in Regent Street was marked for closure in August after more than a century of serving the community.

The unit first opened in 1911 to M&S local fans – who described it as “Swindon staple throughout history“.

Loyal shoppers have now been left devastated to see the 112-year-old shop go.

Jane Anning, 59, said: “I started working at the store in 1981, age 17, and I remember my first week’s wage being £57.24. I thought I was rich.

“It’s so sad to see it go. I have very good memories of my seven years there.”

Fellow local Christine Mckinlay added: “I’ve never known in all my life not to have a Marks in the town and I’m 65.

“It’s so sad that it’s come to this. I feel so sad for all the older generation who rely on Marks, especially since Sainsbury’s closed.

“The town is definitely going downhill.”

Savvy shoppers flocked to the store to snap up last-minute bargains s part of its final day reductions.

But others were less excited and fear the loss will kill the town’s vibrant centre.

One customer said: “This town has finally died. This shop has survived two world wars, but whatever is happening to the town centre right now has killed it off.”

Swindon Borough Council Cllr Emma Bushell said the closure will cause staff redundancies and will be a “major blow” for the area.

Ms Bushell said: “This is a sad day, firstly for all the employees who have been affected, but also for shoppers who have lost one of the main stores in the centre of town.

“Swindon has suffered in recent years with the closure of major high street chains, but it is a trend we have seen in many towns and cities across the country.

“Our job as a local authority is to do as much as we can to help stimulate investment in the town centre so that high street chains like M&S come back.”

Swindon Borough Council said to be in talks with the unit owners to set a new business into the now-empty store.

The move follows a major shake-up to shut 67 stores within five years.

A spokesperson for M&S told The Sun it is “investing £480m in bigger, better stores across the UK”.

They added that the investment programme is about having “the right stores, in the right place, with the right space”.

The spokesperson added: “In this year alone, we are opening 20 new stores across the UK, including brand new M&S stores in Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, Thurrock, Dundee and Purley.

“New M&S Foodhalls will also be opening in locations such as Stockport, Wrexham, Barnsley, Clacton and Uckfield.” 

Despite the closures, bosses said they plan to open up and relocate some stores.

Other store closures

The rising cost of living means shoppers are thinking carefully before parting with their hard-earned cash.

With most retailers now having an online presence it is even easier for people to get what they want without having to leave the house.

This saves on increased town centre parking charges and also takes away the temptation to spend more money by stopping for lunch or a coffee.

But it is not helping the high street retailers, who despite their best efforts cannot get consumers through their doors.

Many big names are finding it impossible to keep their heads above water and are disappearing from our high streets forever.

Wilko collapsed into administration in August after failing to find a buyer for the business and the last of its stores closed just last week.

Meanwhile, Boots has announced plans to close 300 shops across the country.

Several chains including M&Co and Paperchase are also set to close this year.