Thousands have added their name to a petition to save a Marks and Spencer earmarked for closure.

The online document bidding to save the store in Deal was set up by Jake Perry on Tuesday, hours after the retail giant announced plans to close the High Street store after 82 years.

In the first 24 hours, it gained 3,000 signatures and the number of supporters continues to rise.

Mr Perry writes: "There are a lot of people in Deal and Walmer that rely on Marks and Spencer for their daily food.

"They have shopped there for years and a change could negatively impact their way of life.

"Please help to keep the store open."

Shoppers told KentOnline they were "devastated" at plans to close Marks and Spencer stores in Deal and Ashford, yesterday.

It comes as M&S confirmed it would offer new jobs to most of the staff affected by the closures, although it did not reveal where these roles would be based.

The proposed closure is part of the retailer's programme to re-shape its UK store estate but will leave gaping holes in the high streets of both towns.

It leaves 45 workers uncertain about their jobs in Deal and 41 in Ashford. The company says it will work hard to redeploy or offer redeployment to its employees.

Among those to have already added her signature to the petition is Fiona Sinclair.

She said: "M&S is a huge asset to our town - it’s always busy, the staff are friendly and it has a real community feel.

"It would be a very great loss to Deal’s bustling High Street if it closes."

Karen Norman described it as the 'hub' of the High Street.

She wrote: "I will be devastated if it goes.

"It could be used for mainly food which the elderly rely on as can’t travel far.

"Deal is growing with hundreds of new properties being built so therefore more customers [will be] moving into Deal from other areas. M&S should consider this."

Robert Maynard said: "M&S is a backbone British brand which needs to be on such a thriving high street as Deal.

"I certainly agree clothing lines could be reduced/targeted better, but there must be a way to make this shop work.

"The foodhall is too small in my view so expand that, maybe [with] an M&S café and capitalise on the tourism that looks for this iconic name everywhere we go.

"Dover and Westwood are not comparable options - certainly not in modern times when we are trying our best to reduce travel and congestion in and out of town."

You can sign 'Keep Deal Marks and Spencer Open' here.