BUSINESS leaders are working to find new uses for empty Woolworths stores to help support other town centre traders.

Seventy years of trading will be brought to an end for Woolworths today as its final stores shut.

Sandbach's High Street store closed its doors on Saturday after the high street chain plunged into administration in November.

Administrator Deloitte has been closing the company's 800-plus stores in phases nationwide.

Branches in Nantwich and Congleton have also shut.

Peter Whiers, chief executive of South East Cheshire Enterprise, told The Sentinel market towns needed to replace the stores with something different to attract people into the towns.

He said: "What we are hopeful of is that a new store will decide to take over the former Woolworths buildings.

"Woolworths did have some good locations in South Cheshire and other retailers would do well to take advantage of this. However, there is a school of thought which would see us move forward in small market towns and see a different type of usage.

"An example of this is the Bank Corner in Alsager which has seen great success.

"Prior to it opening it was an empty store for some months but it has done really well as a bar and restaurant."