MARKS and Spencer will stay put in Hereford city centre for the foreseeable future.

The high street chain announced that they are to close 100 stores over the next four years but Hereford BID said the shop in High Town is not among them.

Mike Truelove, operations manager for Hereford BID, said M&S has confirmed that they are committed to Hereford for now and years to come.

This is good news for the city which, like most high streets across the country, has seen some shop closures.

Mr Truelove again questioned the data provided by the Local Data Company, which said from January 2017 to January 2018 Hereford saw six high street openings and 20 closures, resulting in a net decline of 14.

Mr Truelove said: "We have concerns on the numbers reported by the Data Company given that we count empty shops each month.

"Over the last 12 months the lowest number was 51 in September 2017 and highest in January 2018 of 60. Currently, the figure stands at 57.

"It was 61 in April 2016 when the BID began."

He questioned how the company counted the shops, over what time period and in which area.

The figures Mr Truelove provided covers the city centre.

The analysis is derived from The Local Data Company visiting the town centres - each premises was visited and its occupancy status recorded as occupied, vacant or demolished. Vacant units are those units, which did not possess a trading business at that location on the day they visited it.

The company said the city centre is defined as per the Department for Communities and Local Government’s definition of the retail core.

Mr Truelove added: "Hereford is facing the same challenges as the rest of the country but is fortunate that we are a destination of choice for many regional shoppers who love our unique charm, retail offer and size in navigating around.

"However, not all HBID members are doing so well and HBID continues to work to support them, and all businesses through the many projects we have delivered and will deliver for the city."