MARKS & Spencer's relocation from the high street to a retail park is edging closer after a planning application was submitted to St Helens Council.

The Star reported earlier this year how the M&S store on Church Street – one of the town centre's most-cherished and long-running shops – will move to the Ravenhead Retail Park in spring 2019.

Plans sent to the local authority applying for signage to be installed detail how the new store is set to be created in unit 11B, which is effectively half of the former Currys megastore. A planning application to divide that building was approved last month.

The retail giant says a new "larger store" at Ravenhead Retail Park will protect and create new jobs. It will house a cafe.

Speaking earlier this year, M&S said that they "remain dedicated to the community".

Pete Swallow, M&S head of region for Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales, said: “We’re excited about our proposals to invest in St Helens and open a new, larger store in Ravenhead Retail Park.

"In addition to the whole team staying with M&S, our new store would create new jobs.

“We’ve been serving customers in the town for 90 years, and remain dedicated to the community.

"If our plans go ahead, we’ll be increasing the size of the existing M&S store to offer our customers an improved shopping experience.

"As well as bringing an M&S Café to the town for the first time, customers will be able to take advantage of free parking and use our popular Click & Collect service in store via M&S.com.”