MARKS & Spencer has announced plans to axe six stores after a fall in half-year profits.

Pre-tax profits for the 26 weeks to September 30, fell to £183.4m, against £192.8m for the same period last year.

Chairman and chief executive Luc Vandevelde said: "There are no quick fixes. We are here to rebuild the business to create solid long-term shareholder value."

To boost performance, it is to close six UK stores, in Bristol, Bromley, Edinburgh, Leeds, Norwich and Watford, and reduce space in a further two, in Bath and Derby.

However, it emphasised the stores to be closed were "satellite" stores, where there were two or more shops in one location and there would be no redundancies, with all staff being re-deployed.

Mr Vandevelde said the group had changed "enormously" in the past 18 months.

"I am sure the major changes were right, indeed long overdue," he said. "However, with too much activity and not enough focus on results, the effect has been that the organisation has lost sight of some of the basics of retailing.

"It must now focus on better products, a better store environment and a more flexible supply chain."

However, the half-year period showed little change in turnover, which came in at £3.76bn against £3.69bn for the same period last time.

Mr Vandevelde was upbeat about the key Christmas trading period saying: "We are going back to some basics in retailing and hope that will deliver some results."

He said the group was aiming for Christmas trading this year to be better than last year.

"I think there is nothing in the way of improving our trading over Christmas."

He added M&S would not start its sale before Christmas.

Mr Vandevelde said the drop in profits was largely due to the group incurring costs of £28m relating to relaunching its brand and revamping the stores