Marks and Spencer will stay in Southend, it has been announced, but the town’s High Street continues to face pressures to draw in shoppers.

Competition from online shopping has hit businesses in the town hard.

Southend is also seeing two huge proposed leisure developments compete for dwindling numbers of shoppers, potentially taking them away from the High Street.

The Echo revealed yesterday that Empire has signed for an IMAX screen at the new cinema in the Seaway leisure complex off Lucy Road.

The Fossetts Farm Southend United stadium development in Eastern Avenue also hinges around securing a national cinema operator to entice customers in.

Turnstone Estates has signed a deal with Empire Cinemas for Seaway and appears to be ahead in the race, but the town could end up with three competing cinemas, including the Odeon in the High Street.

Fossetts, with its free parking, could potentially draw shoppers away from the heart of the town.

Ann Holland, councillor responsible for culture, tourism and the economy, said: “It’s difficult to judge whether three cinemas would work. They would have different clientele though and could work together to provide different things for different audiences.

“I think Seaway will bring extra jobs to the town, but we haven’t seen the plans yet.”

Southend High Street has several empty stores, including the large BHS store on a prominent corner site. There is so far no sign of that being occupied. Ms Holland added: “It’s very frustrating, but I know Southend BID will be helping to lobby on that to try to encourage retailers in.”

Despite the Basildon closure, the planned food hall on Canvey will go ahead this year and another in Rayleigh will remain.

Rayleigh Independents councillor Jamie Burton said: “M&S is one of the high street flagship stores. It’s important to have that and without it high streets struggle to attract people into the town.

“I’m very glad Rayleigh food court is staying. It employs a lot of people and many of them are local.”