A petition to save Marks & Spencer's Simply Food shop has been launched in Bracknell town centre.

The store in Princess Square is one of 27 stores across the country that has been earmarked for closure as the chain struggles in the credit crunch.

The petition, which is available in most of the town centre shops, was launched by Jane Gates, the owner of Bas Books in Crossway.

Leave a message of support to keep M&S Simply Food in Bracknell open.

Hakan Mete of Fresco Deli said: “We don’t want another big shop to go – it’s looking like a ghost town as it is, especially where I am in Crossway.

“Losing M&S could help my business but I don’t even want that, I just want the town to do well.

“I will go and get a petition form. People have already told me how sad they would be if it went.”

Helen Barnett of the Bracknell Regeneration partnership added: “Marks and Spencer is a wonderful retailer to have in the town centre and we would of course be very sad to see it close its doors.”

Marks & Spencer could not say if any the petition would influence their decision but a spokesman said: “We really value local opinion regarding the Bracknell store while we are in consultation with staff.”