The first signs of the impeding closure of Swindon town centre's Marks and Spencer have appeared.

The whole top floor of the Regent Street store, including the toilets and cafe, have been closed.

Marks and Spencer have announced that the store would be officially closing on October 28, but shop workers are already preparing for the end.

Locals visiting the shop this week have spotted signs and barriers closing off the store’s entire top floor, after Marks and Spencer's café and Bureau de Change closed on Saturday, October 14.

The sombre feeling on the shop floor is obvious, as the loss of the store will be a huge blow for Swindon Town centre.

Swindon Advertiser: The upper floor of Marks and Spencer has been closed to the public.The upper floor of Marks and Spencer has been closed to the public. (Image: Newsquest)

"Really disappointing to hear that Marks & Spencer will be going ahead with their Swindon town centre store closure at the end of the month,” said Councillor Jim Robbins on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"We are determined to get Swindon town centre into a place where Marks and Spencer want to return."

Neil Robinson, who shared photos of the closed top floor, labelled the sorry sight as “the beginning of the end”.

“Shouldn’t be allowed to close…it is needed,” the Swindon local wrote.

Other regular visitors pointed out that the café which is now closed was incredibly popular with shoppers.

“It's always busy in there, especially the café and food hall so I don’t get why it’s closing.

“I feel particularly sorry for the many elderly people who I often see in there meeting for coffee and lunches, where are they meant to go now?” said Nicola Bickell.

Swindon Advertiser: Marks and Spencer on Regent Street will close for good on October 28.Marks and Spencer on Regent Street will close for good on October 28. (Image: Newsquest)

The closure of M&S will mark one of several losses this month to Swindon town centre, after Wilko also closed both of its Swindon stores.

“Another nail in the coffin for the town,” commented Paul Hughes.

Marks and Spencer announced that it had started a consultation on its proposal to close the two-floor Regent Street store in August, as part of what bosses described as a Store Estate Transformation.

However, other M&S branches within Swindon, such as the Designer Outlet store and the Foodhall in Mannington Retail Park, will remain open.

Its large shop in the Swindon Orbital is expected to be expanded in the near future as the company is working with British Land to invest money into the site.