TWO staff members with nearly 75 years' service between them at Marks & Spencer's Bradford store are anticipating a new dawn for the retailer as it opens its new 40,000 sq ft store in The Broadway centre tomorrow.

The retailer - headed by former Morrisons boss Marc Bolland- is an anchor tenant in the new centre after trading in Bradford since 1929.

The Broadway store will have 120 staff, including 50 new jobs, along with staff transferring from the old store and from Owlcotes, Pudsey, and Halifax sites.

Steve King, store manager said: “The whole team at M&S is looking forward to moving into our new home at The Broadway Bradford. The store will offer customers an even better shopping experience with bigger and better ranges of fashion, beauty, homeware and food, as well as creating new job opportunities for the local area.”

Visual merchandiser Jennifer Dunn joined M&S Bradford 40 years ago while recruiter Joyce Seymour has 33 years' service .

Jennifer, who started as a Saturday girl in the lingerie department, said: “I have so many good memories at the (Darley Street) store, including when we celebrated our 100 year anniversary and all the staff dressed up in period outfits. It was great fun and I can’t wait to start creating new memories at the new store.

“Although we’ll miss the building on Darley Street, we can’t wait to get into our new store.”

Joyce, who also started as a Saturday girl in the womenswear department was at one point a member of the M&S model roadshow team

She said: “I joined M&S when I first started looking for employment and it really was the place to be. Today I look after all the recruitment for M&S Bradford and there really isn’t anything better than seeing a person progress their career with us.

"I’ve been involved in putting together the team for our new store at The Broadway and can't wait to open our doors.”

Among new employees joining the M&S at The Broadway team is Sabrina Kapre, who was unemployed after leaving college but managed to secure her job through the company's Make Your Mark partnership with The Prince’s Trust, which helps people facing barriers to employment.

.Sabrina said: “M&S has given me the opportunity to gain valuable work experience, whilst increasing my confidence working with people. My life now has direction and I have learnt so much. The new M&S store opening at The Broadway will help me to develop my experience in retail to build a successful career, and I am delighted to be a part of the new team.”