M&S plans round-the-clock Christmas shopping

Marks & Spencer says some of its biggest stores will be open 24 hours a day in the run-up to Christmas.

It says the move is in response to customer demand.

M&S hopes it will help to continue the sales growth it announced last Tuesday.

The group says it has not finalised which shops will be open around the clock.

An M&S spokeswoman said: "Last year a number of our stores opened until midnight and some are now open until then anyway.

"Customers want flexibility in terms of when they can shop, it is meeting customer demand."

The group has dismissed as speculation reports that chairman and chief executive Luc Vandevelde is planning to split the top job at the retailer next year.

It had been reported that Mr Vandevelde was planning to step down as chief executive but remain chairman of the group.

Roger Holmes, UK retail managing director, was named in reports as a possible candidate to take over as chief executive.