UPDATE: M&S has now confirmed the app and website are back up and running.
THE website of high street giant Marks & Spencer has been offline for several hours after it was hit with “technical issues”.
The store chain said the problem had been caused by a third party service provider experiencing a technical issue.
Visitors to the retailer’s site on Saturday afternoon were greeted with a message which read: “Please bear with us. Sorry you can’t shop with us right now.
READ MORE: NC500 route: Scottish Highlands councillor fumes over campervan numbers
“We’re working hard to be back online as soon as possible.”
The M&S app was also unavailable, customers reported.
An M&S spokesperson told the PA news agency: “A third party service provider is experiencing a technical issue which is temporarily affecting access to our website and app.
“We hope to be back up and running soon and are sorry to customers for the inconvenience caused.”
PA understands the problem is not hacking related.
In a reply on Twitter/X to a disgruntled web user, the retailer said: “We’re experiencing some technical issues but we are working on it.”
M&S is the latest grocer to face issues with its online services.
Last month, Sainsbury’s shoppers saw online orders fail to arrive after the supermarket giant was hit by a technical hitch.
The chain blamed a “technical issue” for the disruption to its online grocery operation.
The website and app issues come just days before Marks & Spencer is expected to reveal a jump in annual profits when it reports on a bumper year.
The high street staple has enjoyed buoyant sales across its food halls and clothing and home arm, having undergone a significant turnaround plan in recent years, including cost-cutting and store closures.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here