A major retailer transforming a former south Essex Debenhams unit has unveiled a sneak peek inside its new 140-seat café.

Marks and Spencer has revealed the new and improved café within the new store at Lakeside shopping centre, which is opening within weeks as part of a £20million investment.

This is one of the first stores across the UK to have the new design which sees a complete step change with new branding and improved all-day delicious menus.

The café offers customers table service in a stylish place to eat with freshly prepared M&S food, barista-made hot drinks and comfy lounge seating.

This fresh picture comes as M&S has been unveiling various parts of the supermarket's new unit, including its market-style foodhall and huge clothing department with new features such as the option to skip the queues altogether and pay straight away in the store fitting rooms.

Opening in time for Christmas, customers will be able to tuck into the store's "best-ever" festive menu including the new turkey and ham hock toastie with gravy dipper, turkey pot pie, and giant festive cheesy rarebit crumpet.

Creating 90 new jobs in the area, the supermarket will be one of the first of 20 new M&S stores which are due to open across the country this year.

Store manager, Dior Hudson, who has worked at M&S for 10 years, said: “We’re really excited to share a sneak peek of our new award-winning cafe design and we’re proud that M&S Lakeside will be one of the first stores in the country to open with this stylish new look.

“The team are all working hard to get the whole store ready for opening and we can’t wait to welcome customers through the door on November 15 and share everything we’ve been working on.”

The new store is located inside the West Thurrock Way centre and will be open from 8am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sunday.