RETAIL giant Marks and Spencer is looking to move "across town" to a flagship store in Kidderminster's new canalside shops scheme, the Shuttle/ Times and News can exclusively reveal.

Hush-hush talks are at an advanced stage between developer Centros Miller and M and S over a move from High Street into two large units - numbers 18 and 19 - at Weavers Wharf.

Centros Miller and M and S have remained tight-lipped about the discussions but it is understood M and S is keen to dramatically raise its stake in Kidderminster, with the new premises twice the size of the existing store.

The news comes as plans to open a multi-screen cinema at Weavers Wharf look to have bitten the dust at the 11th hour.

Conservationists are celebrating after securing Grade II listed building status for the historic Piano Building, which was due to be demolished to make way for a six-screen cinema.

The news effectively scuppers the only remaining bid to bring the silver screen back to the town.

The double dose of news generated a mixed reaction in the town.

Andrew Dickens, the district's commercial services chief, and Margaret Moon, manager of the town's Swan Centre, said they were optimistic a move by M and S could benefit the whole town.

"Marks is showing a lot of confidence in Kidderminster if it is planning to move to premises with at least double the floor space," said Mr Dickens. "If Marks and Spencer do move we will work with them to attract another high street store to their vacated premises."

And Mrs Moon, while accepting there would be concern among traders at the loss of such a key name from the "old" part of town, said: "An improved M and S has been the wish of Kidderminster people for years.

"If the company vacates its High Street store then it opens up the potential for a big new name to come in there. It's an exciting challenge."

A Centros Miller spokesman said news of the listed status for the Piano Building appeared to put paid to plans to open a cinema.

"We are flabbergasted to say the least. We have two cinema operators vying to take up this site and were very close to securing a deal.

"We will look at the building again but we had already considered and rejected refurbishing it - it's the wrong shape and size for a cinema multiplex."

Pro-cinema campaigners said they were "absolutely furious" the scheme had been "wrecked", while conservationists said they were delighted the building had been saved.

Cinema campaigner Mike Oborski said he was "furious" at the announcement.

"I hope the Civic Society are proud of themselves. They have ensured this unusable eyesore is retained.

"They have deprived the people of Wyre Forest of their only realistic hope for a cinema."

He added: "We would urge the district council to now go for 'listed building consent to demolish' so the cinema plan can go ahead but we accept that this is a very long shot.

"We have gone from having two cinema proposals up and running to having none."

The building, set for demolition to make way for the new complex, has been granted the special protection by the Government's culture department after an application by Kidderminster Civic Society.

Society spokesman Nigel Gilbert said: "I am absolutely delighted. We had been hopeful but not confident because a previous application was refused.

"The dilemma we face is that we too want a cinema but this was the wrong location."

Mr Gilbert added: "We will now be looking closely at what can be done with the Piano Building. We have argued it would be a good site for a museum."

Mr Dickens, said he was hopeful a deal could still be secured. "I have spoken to Centros Miller and they have said they intend to look at it again."

Existing planning permission for demolition will now have to be reconsidered in the light of the new status for the building, he added.

The bid by the civic society had been backed by Save Britain's Heritage, a London-based conservation group.

The organisation wrote to the Government's Department of Culture, Media and Sport last week and this might have been a crucial factor in the decision to grant protection.

At the beginning of the year two rival schemes were vying for the go-ahead - the Centros Miller scheme for the Piano Building and an alternative cinema, restaurants and Big W store project at the former B and Q on Crossley Retail Park.

Both won district planning approval - but last month the B and Q scheme was withdrawn after a public inquiry was ordered by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

Centros Miller is expected to announce shortly whether it intends to pursue the demolition proposal or opt to refurbish the Piano Building instead.