'There's nowhere else in town like Woolworths'

AFTER a happy 42-year career at Woolworths in Burslem, Anna Jones said it was the family atmosphere and regular customers she would miss most.

The 58-year-old, of Chell, said: "I've been here since we had wooden counters and seen three refurbishments and countless stock changes.

"It's been like working in a family – lots of us have been here a long time.

"It's all happened so quickly and over Christmas I haven't had time to make any other plans, but think I will have a rest before looking for another job."

Staff at the Burslem branch, which employed 12 people, wrote a special poem, placed on a board outside, to say goodbye to their regular customers.

Customer Mary Shirley, aged 69, of Middleport, visits the store up to three times a week.

She said: "It's shocking and only adds to the decline of Burslem. I've always shopped at this Woolworths and there's nowhere else in town like it."

Another staff member, Janet Baddeley, who has worked at the branch for 21 years, said: "We will all keep in touch but I will miss many of the characters that come in regularly.

"Many families we have known through the generations – we knew some people when they were babies and now they bring their own babies in."

Customer Anne Edge, aged 66, of Macclesfield Street, Burslem, said: "It's a sad day. When I was 16, I came to Woolworths to start my 'bottom drawer collection' of everything I would need for married life.

"The shop is different now – it doesn't have as much variety and it's a shame it didn't move with the times."

Nicholas Blunt, aged 50 of Ball Green, added: "I come in regularly – it's cheap and cheerful and I think the town will miss the shop."