Marks & Spencer set to invade Russia

Marks & Spencer is considering opening a chain of stores in Russia.

M&S is negotiating lease space in five shopping centres developed by Swedish furniture giant, Ikea.The first store will open in Moscow this autumn, moving to other regions in 2006.

It remains to be seen if M&S, the Tim Henman of the retail world, will be more imaginative in Russia than it is in the U.K.