A Marks and Spencer food store is on its way to a hospital.

The new M&S Food to Go will be located on the main concourse within Royal Blackburn Hospital’s WH Smith store.

It will see the WH Smith shop undergo a 21-day refurbishment programme which started yesterday (January 21).

WH Smith will remain open throughout the refurbishment with shopfitters working during the night.

The M&S Food To Go at the hospital is scheduled to open on February 9.

Improvements to the hospital’s retail facilities also include a two-phase programme of works to upgrade the Costa coffee and food outlet.

The extensive refurbishment works have seen the temporary closure of Costa from Sunday (January 20) with a grand reopening planned for February 9.

James Maguire, divisional director of estates and facilities for East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, said: “We’re really excited to be adding to the food and drink retail offers at the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital and giving patients, visitors and colleagues here more choice.”

“The new M&S Food To Go store will add to the existing Costa Coffee and WH Smith facilities and we’re looking forward to the opening.”

“We apologise for any short term inconvenience while we upgrade our retail facilities for the long term benefit of everyone.

“We’d like to remind everyone that the hospital’s Grane Restaurant serves hot/cold drinks and snacks, as well as a full restaurant menu, seven days a week with 24-hour access to vending machines.”

The trust said other retail outlets such as Millercare and North West Air Ambulance Shop are unaffected.