THE 'Simply Food' Marks and Spencer branch in South Woodford will not shut despite other closures across the country, the chain has announced.

Earlier this morning fears were raised that staff at the shop on George Lane could face the sack, after the store said it would consider closing 25 of its 'Simply Food' shops around the country.

The announcement came as the chain reported that its UK like for like sales were down 7.1 per cent in the 13 weeks to December 27.

Sir Stuart Rose, Chairman of the chain, said: "We continued to control costs tightly and now expect operating cost growth for 2008/09 to be towards the lower end of our guidance of four to five per cent.

"This reduction in costs includes the benefit of a number of proposals that we are announcing today.

"We have reviewed our store portfolio and, subject to consultation with staff, are proposing to close 27 stores.

"Twenty-five of these are small underperforming Simply Food stores and two are small main chain stores.

"Around 780 jobs may be lost as a result of these proposals."

The chain has over 350 Simply Food shops across the UK.

The news comes just weeks after tens of retail jobs in the area were lost when the Wanstead and South Woodford branches of Woolworths were shut down for good.