Customers Flock To Last Days Of Woolworths

There were already queues of people at one Belfast outlet of the troubled retailer Woolworths this morning before the doors even opened for business, on foot of a dramatic, pre-Christmas closing down sale.

The good news for shoppers - with offers of as much as half price on the shelves - was however, counter pointed with bad news for the staff of around 400 in Ulster's Woolworths as all are now facing an uncertain future as a buyer is not found for the ailing firm.

The iconic chain was forced to call in administrators two weeks ago with poor sales and a £385 million debt.

Today's cut-price bonanza is expected to lure tens of thousands of bargain-hunters into Woolworths' 815 stores nationwide.

Woolworths has 19 stores in towns and cities across Northern Ireland, including north Belfast, Londonderry, Coleraine, Port-down, Armagh and Enniskillen.

Up to 30,000 jobs at the retailer's outlets are under threat as a desperate hunt for a rescuer goes on.

Administrator Deloitte said that if no offers for the chain were forthcoming soon, stores may start shutting in the next few weeks.

See: Closing Down Sale For Troubled Woolies

(BMcC)