Catherine West has launched a campaign to save a historic department store.

The Marks and Spencer store in High Road, Wood Green, has been a landmark in the street for 77 years and provided generations with shopping memories.

Ms West has written to Mr Robert Swannell, the chairman of the Marks and Spencer Group Plc to request an urgent meeting.

The newly elected MP for Hornsey & Wood Green said “Wood Green is a fantastic centre for retail, and indeed one of the capital’s largest metropolitan centres outside the West End and the City of London.

“The proposal to close this large M&S store is deeply concerning not only because it would result in the loss of nearly 60 jobs but it would mean the departure of a business that has been active in Wood Green for many decades.

“I would strongly encourage local residents to join my campaign to save this store, which is heavily used by the local community, and help prevent any redundancies that could come about from its closure”

Marks & Spencer has said it will attempt to re-employ workers at the store in its nearby outlets should the closure go ahead.

A spokesman for M&S said: “After much consideration we have taken the difficult decision to propose the closure of the Wood Green store.

“We have been offering roles for all colleagues in nearby stores if the proposal goes ahead.”

A petition launched by Ms West to keep the store open currently has 169 supporters.

Signatory Charlotte Oakes, whose mother is employed at the store, said: “I strongly believe this will have a negative impact on Wood Green.

“M&S is the flagship store in Wood Green and has been for many years. As a child, it was always a treat for me and my sister to visit and help our mother with her shopping.

“My mother, Gillian has been a employee for M&S for more than five years and has enjoyed working in this particular store and does not wish to move to another as she would like to continue her services there up until she retires. She has made friends and they all work very well together. I hope M&S will reconsider their decision.”