Marks & Spencer has given out more than 800,000 20% discount vouchers to its staff and pension holders.

Staff have been sent a dozen vouchers to distribute among families and friends, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Analysts were concerned the move could suggest M&S was struggling to sell unsold stock, but the company insisted the promotion had been planned for some time.

“We have trialled it before on a regional basis,” a spokeswoman told the paper. “It has been in the pipeline for some time. Offers like these are common.”