Marks & Spencer has opened its first store in Beijing, part of its strategy of focusing on flagship stores in China’s largest cities.

Its 1,500 square metre shop will sell clothes, food and drink.

The firm said the store would build on the growing popularity for M&S products through its online sites on Chinese marketplaces.

The British retailer already has about 10 stores in the Shanghai region and 20 in Hong Kong.

But in March it announced it was closing some in a rejig of strategy, citing China’s faltering economy.

M&S says its new store in the capital will be aimed at the middle class and upper middle class.