A bid to prevent an M&S shop from being demolished has failed after Historic England refused to list the property. 

The Marks & Spencer store on Sunderland's High Street West did not meet the "necessary criteria" to be listed, and the council are free to roll on with plans to flatten parts of the old structure. 

Efforts were made to get the building listed by the Conservative Party in Sunderland, and they told the BBC that had been left disappointed by the Historic England decision, but emphasised that they were "determined to protect the history of the building".

The flagship Sunderland city store pulled down its shutters for the last time in May, much to the disappointment of shoppers. It has been replaced by a larger store at Washington Galleries. 

M&S blamed “changing shopping habits” for the decision which sparked fury among locals.

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An online petition garnered more than 2,300 signatures in a bid to get the chain to reverse its decision.

Historic England said the building "did not meet the necessary criteria for listing in a national context."

The building belongs to Sunderland City Council, but M&S hold the lease until March 2027.