NORTHWICH has paid a final farewell to Woolworth's after more than 82 years in the town.

The Witton Street store shut its doors to customers for the last time on Saturday.

It first opened on June 4, 1926 and was a firm favourite with the town’s shoppers.

Shelves were left empty as customers took advantage of the company’s demise.

The store held a massive closing sale with discounts of up to 70 per cent – even the shelves and store safe were available to buy.

Hard working staff remained in work for a few more days as they finished tidying up the store and stripping it of its fixtures and fittings.

Forty staff paid their final goodbyes, yesterday, Tuesday, with 65 staff in total being forced to look for a new job after the chain was wound up.

Woolworth’s bosses held the Northwich store in high esteem.

It had been named in the top 10 of the firm’s 812 stores for performance and standards.

But the company ran up debts of £385million and was put in administration in early December.

Robert Tomkys was manager of the Witton Street store for the past 13 years and worked for the chain for 36 years.

“We were all gutted when it was first announced because it was so unexpected,” he said.

“But we have got used to the idea and everyone has been looking for other jobs – it is still very sad though.”

The staff held a farewell gathering at the RAOB Club in Witton Street on Friday, January 2, where they reminisced about the good times over a drink.

Robert added: “We have got some long- serving staff here, more than 20 years just in this store alone.

“They have been a good team, and it makes a difference when you are running a business.”

Read about the staff family connections at the Northwich Woolies store on page five.

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