A VACANT store has been taken over, creating new jobs and investment in a town.

Clothes retailer Ethel Austin has moved along the High Street in Stone, switching from a smaller unit to the former Woolworths branch.

Traders in the town were left wondering what the future held for the large unit when Woolworths went into administration late last year. But the value clothes shop has now taken over the 2,700 sq ft store, which was due to open today with eight staff, including two new employees.

The old Ethel Austin store is the subject of a planning application to become a coffee shop.

Chain owner Elaine McPherson, who bought the company last summer, said: "Ethel Austin is a strong high street brand with a loyal customer base. In today's climate it's imperative to provide customers with the value fashions and quality and that's what you will find in our new store.

"The retail market can be very unforgiving to those who do not diversify but we have been improving the brand image and reviewing our product ranges."

Stone town councillor Phillip Jones said: "Woolworths became a blot on the High Street when it closed. Now I want to see the old Ethel Austin store occupied as soon as possible.

"There are not as many vacant shops in Stone as there are in other market towns. Trade is difficult everywhere at the minute, but when a large anchor store such as Woolworths closes it is especially difficult. So I am very glad to see Ethel Austin opening in its new location."

Andrew Rylance, aged 44, owners of Abbot's natural health store in the Stone High Street, said: "A lot of market towns have been affected by the loss of Woolworths stores and the increase in out-of-town shopping.

"Woolworths closing in Stone certainly had an effect on trade in the town. It stocked a lot of general household products and now a lot of shoppers are travelling elsewhere to get similar goods.

"It's very important to keep as many shops occupied and open in the High Street because closure can lead to an uneasy snowball effect."

Ten other branches of Woolworths closed across the region including one in Hanley, which is set to become a TJ Hughes discount department store.

Elsewhere, Yorkshire Trading Company is taking over the store in Leek, while the Woolies branch in Newcastle has become a 99p bargain shop. B&M Bargains has shown interest in stores in Congleton and Nantwich but there are still empty shops in Sandbach, Burslem, Stoke and Longton.

The Ethel Austin store was due to open at 11am and the first 500 people were expected to receive a £5 voucher.