*UPDATE: 12.59PM*

Shopworkers' trade union Usdaw has called on Marks and Spencer to immediately open up a dialogue with the union to ensure staff are properly represented, after the company announced a further 17 store closures, putting 1,045  jobs at risk.

David Gill - Usdaw National Officer said: "Staff in all M&S stores were extremely concerned about what the future holds when the company announced a wide-ranging store reorganisation in November 2016, which will affect more than 100 shops over a five year period.

"Today we’ve seen a fourth wave of closures announced, which is devastating news for the staff in those stores and the uncertainty continues for everyone else. This piecemeal approach to reorganising the business is extremely distressing for the staff.

"Usdaw has thousands of members working for Marks and Spencer and the staff now need, more than ever, the representation and support of an independent trade union. We again urge M&S management to abandon their long-held resistance to recognising Usdaw as the union to represent its staff. It is simply unfair that they continue to refuse their staff access to Usdaw, having made the decision on their behalf not to engage with a trade union.

"At this time of great uncertainty, staff need to be assured that an experienced and knowledgeable trade union is interrogating the company's business case for this store reorganisation. Given the opportunity Usdaw would ensure that all avenues to save jobs are explored and staff are treated with dignity, fairness and respect.

"We are providing our members with the support and representation they require throughout this difficult time."

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*UPDATE: 12:45PM*

A spokesperson for Cwmbran Centre said: “We are sorry to hear the news that M&S is planning to close its store at the Cwmbran Centre. We would like to reassure shoppers that we will be speaking with M&S about the future of the store.

"Despite the challenging retail market, Cwmbran Centre remains one of the main retail destinations in South Wales and continues to attract interest from local, national and international brands.”

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M&S IS CONSULTING with 74 staff on the proposed closure of its Cwmbran store.

The proposed closure of the store in Cwmbran Centre is part of M&S’s programme to reshape its UK store estate.

John Turner, M&S head of region for South Wales, said: “The proposal to close our store in Cwmbran has been a difficult decision.

"Over the coming weeks we will be speaking with each colleague individually to discuss the proposal and what is right for them.

“If the proposal goes ahead we will remain dedicated to serving our local customers from our nearby stores in Newport and Cardiff, as well as on M&S.com.”

The nearest stores to M&S Cwmbran are M&S Friars Walk Newport Foodhall and M&S Newport Retail Park.

The Cwmbran store is one of 17 closures announced as part of Marks & Spencer's 'radical transformation plan'.

The latest announcement comes in addition to 38 previously announced locations, of which 30 have already shut.

In total, the retailer plans to close more than 100 stores as part of its target to generate one third of sales online by 2022.