MARKS & Spencer is creating 50 new jobs as it relocates to a brand new store at the heart of The Rock development in Bury.

A mammoth logistical exercise involving the shutting of its existing store in The Haymarket ahead of the reopening at its new location the following day will carried out with military precision.

The current store in the Mill Gate will close its doors for the final time next Thursday before the new premises opens the following morning in St John’s Square with a ribbon cutting at 11am.

And the new 48,000 sq ft store will be almost double the size of the current Bury M&S premises and will offer people in the town more choice than ever before. The 50 new jobs will bring the total workforce to 150.

The new location reinforces Marks and Spencer’s commitment to Bury. Next year, the company will mark a proud centenary of trading in the town.

It originally opened a penny bazaar in Fleet Street in 1911. In the 1960s, the site was extended before Marks and Spencer moved to The Haymarket in 1982. Customers will be invited to join in next Friday’s celebrations with a complimentary glass of champagne, plus the opportunity to win a share of £1,000 worth of M&S gift cards.

Shoppers can take advantage of a full programme of entertainment.