Marks and Spencer set to announce 1,100 job cuts

High street retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) is expected announce more than 1,100 job cuts following poor Christmas trading results.

More than 1,000 shop floor staff and several hundred more employees from the department store operator’s head office and support functions are expected to be made redundant.

Christmas sales for M&S fell by about 8%, despite heavy discounts over the final six weeks. The retailer announced in early November that net profit sank 43% in the first half of 2008 due to reduced customer spending.

A spokesperson from Marks & Spencer declined to comment.

Up to 1,900 more UK jobs are also at risk after famous china and ceramics firm Waterford Wedgwood went into administration.