A supermarket in Swindon has had to temporarily close after a fridge and freezer break down. 

But while the Marks and Spencer Foodhall in Mannington Retail Park is now open, it has a limited range of stock because the problem has not been sorted. 

Some alarm was raised on Friday when members of the public noticed that the fridges and freezers were empty and asked why on the Swindon Community Notice Board, with some replying that it might be a sign that the store would be closing. 

But a spokesperson speaking on behalf of the store, provided reassurance that the store wasn't going anywhere and instead explained they were experiencing a technical difficulty. 

They said: "Hi all, we had a fridge and freezer breakdown today.

"To protect the stock we took the decision to temporarily close to ensure we were compliant with our temperature procedures.

"We are now open however we have an extremely limited range of cold chain.

"We have a team on site working on the fridges and freezers so hopefully will be up and running soon. Thanks"

(Image: Dave Cox)

On Saturday, signs were up across the entire length of the store's fridges and freezers informing customers there would not be any frozen food available. 

They said: "Due to a technical issue our freezers will not be in action today.

"Unfortunately, we do not have any frozen stock in store. 

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused."

In May 2024, the supermarket chain was given the green light to expand its North Swindon store located at the Orbital Shopping Centre. 

Swindon Borough Council planning officers gave Marks & Spencer the go-ahead to take over the vacant unit next door to its existing store at the destination just off Thamesdown Drive in Priory Vale.

The extension will see the store grow by 40 per cent to a total of nearly 60,000 square feet and feature a fresh market-style food hall and spruced up clothing, home, and beauty departments.

This follows the closure of the town centre Regent Street branch that had stood there for 112 years. 

The store, which had entrances inside the Brunel Shopping Centre and Regent Street closed in October 2023, 

At the time, Neil Enoch, M&S Regional Manager said: “Shopping habits are changing, so we’re rotating our store estate to make sure we have the right stores to offer customers a brilliant shopping experience.

"As part of this transformation, we have today announced to colleagues our proposal to close our M&S Swindon store at 81 Regent Street".