TROUBLED high street giant Marks & Spencer is aiming to put a spark into its sales by moving into the home electronics market and launching a range of mobile phones.

The controversial countrywide chain is to begin selling a range of branded electronic goods for the first time in a development that will bring it into line with major supermarket rivals like Sainsbury's, Tesco and Asda.

In addition to the pay-as-you-go M&S mobile phone, other products being launched include home phones, digital cameras, printers, digital TVs and digital set top boxes.

The new range will be introduced in 59 stores around the UK in time for Christmas in the hope of cashing in on the festive spending season. Until now M&S has only carried out two small-scale trials of branded items including an Orange mobile phone package and printers and ink cartridges.

A spokesman for M&S said the new range was sparked by customer demand. Prices of brands including Nokia, Samsung, Pure and Elan will start from around £50.

The spokesman added: "We need to test the demand but we are confident in the products we have selected, which are all of great quality, easy to use and market leading. It is exciting for us."

But the spokesman insisted the trial was not an indication that M&S was softening its own label philosophy. "Elsewhere we are 100% committed to own brand," said the spokesman.

The success of the range will be reviewed after Christmas and if it is judged to have been a big hit with shoppers it could be rolled out in all stores big enough to take the range of products.

Marks & Spencer is undergoing a high street revival under chief executive Stuart Rose who earlier this month announced better-than-expected second-quarter trading results.

Twenty stores are currently undergoing refits to counter claims that the store group was failing to keep up with the times. Rose said that Marks & Spencer has started to offer "more newness in the stores. It has meant there's less clutter and I think the customers are beginning to recognise that it's an easier place to shop. The key issue now is what we are going to do beyond that."

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