Overweight children are being tailored to, literally, by leading retailer Marks & Spencer.

Marks and Spencer has launched a new range of over-sized school uniforms for children that are aged as young as four. The decision comes after studies reveal that one out of every five British schoolchildren is clinically overweight when they begin their schooling.

In the new M&S Plus school wear range, items include clothing designed for pre-school children who have waistlines of anywhere up to 23 inches – which is the size more usually found on the average eight year old. Marks and Spencer has said that the trial range of clothing followed demand for bigger sizes from parents, while industry experts said that the decision simply reflected the growing rate of obesity among younger children.

According to the National Obesity Forum’s Tam Fry, the move was commercial recognition of what the public and parents had been aware of for years, namely, that obesity levels in pre-schoolers is on the rise. Fry added that of all new entrants to primary schools across Britain, 27 per cent were obese or overweight.

The Plus school wear collection hit the shelves last week, and targets the 3 – 16 age bracket, with waistlines in both boys pants and girls skirts ranging up to 41 inches. A spokesperson for M&S said that they wanted to ensure that their school wear range was accessible to all shapes and sizes of pupil.

Leading UK retailer Marks & Spencer has lingerie to thank for much of its support if figures from the last financial year are anything to go by.

The iconic £16 frilled Ceriso bra has helped push up the profits of the high street giant, leading many to assert that this is not any old bra; it’s the one that made M&S a million. With over 100,000 of the Ceriso bras sold in 2009, the mathematics suggests that lingerie shoppers were purchasing the hugely popular item once every two and a half minutes throughout the entire year.

The secret to success could all be in the frills, as underwear manufacturers confirmed that practical bras were not nearly as in demand as those with a decorative purpose. Floral designs and chain-lace embroidery were the biggest hits for the year, not just with women but with husbands and boyfriends brave enough to shop for their significant other.

Sales of the Ceriso helped M&S to grow their full-year profits by 5 per cent to achieve a total of £632.5 million. The retailer continued its dominance of the British underwear market, selling around 25 per cent of all bras and pants in the UK last year. M&S also grew its female market share to 25.9 per cent, three times more than Primark, its nearest competitor.

 After a lean couple of years the financial bonus will be welcomed by all at M&S, which also increased sales in men’s underwear, despite a very public dressing down by Jeremy Paxman.

The England football team were today seen checking out their new off-the-pitch strip as the official World Cup suit was launched at Marks & Spencer. A far cry in price from the previous togs designed by Armani, the national side has opted for more modest attire for this summer’s trip to South Africa.

That said, our boys are still looking pretty sharp as the line up in the latest M&S ad campaign. Joining today’s team are 1966 heroes Roger Hunt, Gordon Banks, Martin Peters and Sir Geoff Hirst, who can all still certainly hold their own in front of the camera.

The grey three-piece, wool suit is designed by Savile Row’s Timothy Everest in collaboration with the high street brand. The team are pictured in jackets adorned with the England crest, although an in-store version without the crest will be available for purchase from today.

The M&S ad sees team members standing in groups of four above the tag-line ‘Four Lions, One Tailor’, while the suits of their older 1966 counterparts receive the branding ‘Four legends, One Label.’

England manager Fabio Capello also reportedly gave his specifications for the new tight-fitting players’ suit. In previous years, the England World Cup wears have been designed by British brands Paul Smith and Burton as well as Italian legend Giorgio Armani. The latter is close friends with former England Captain David Beckham and his label-loving wife Victoria.