SHOCK and sadness in equal measure has reverberated around the town this week in the wake of Marks & Spencer’s announcement regarding its Keighley store.

Closure of the Low Street branch is of course only a proposal at this stage, and hope must be retained that some way might be found of keeping the respected retailer in the town.

However, the harsh reality is that when companies issue statements of this kind, the decision has been made and unfortunately it is very rarely reversed.

M&S has had a presence in Keighley for over a century and is a central part of the fabric of the community and its shopping experience.

Some might question whether it has evolved sufficiently with the times, and the potential closures both in Keighley and other parts of the country maybe suggest it hasn’t, but its outlets are an integral element of the high street and remain popular with a considerable sector of the public.

Whatever happens at Keighley, our thoughts must go out to the 33 staff affected. We sincerely hope they are treated fairly and with respect.