Staff at a branch of Marks & Spencer have received letters telling them £100,000 is missing from the tills.

M&S immediately said it is not accusing staff of taking the money, but the letters say that everyone at the store in Reading, including managers, is under suspicion until the thief or thieves are "detected and dismissed".

The money went missing, at the rate of £5,000 a week, between September and February.

The company said it was informing staff of the theft, but was not accusing them of taking the money.

All staff had a letter attached to their payslips. It said: "We have good reason to believe that some employees steal merchandise, steal from other colleagues and from tills.

"These losses are off the scale and everyone, including management, is under suspicion until such time as the thieves are detected and dismissed."

M&S issued a statement saying the theft is a matter for urgent review internally.

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