Former Woolies shop to open

The old Woolworths store in Wellington town centre – which has remained closed since January – will reopen this month.

The New Street premises was among 18 acquired in February from administrators of Woolworths by Heron Frozen Foods, of Hull, East Yorkshire.

Shop-fitters are currently stripping out the interior and getting it ready for opening on July 14 as a Heron outlet.

Meanwhile, the company is seeking to recruit a manager, a full or part-time assistant manager and part-time shop assistants.

Councillor Miles Hosken, a Wellington shopkeeper and member of both town and borough councils, said today: "This is great news for our town.

"Hopefully it will encourage other entrepreneurs to take advantage of the fantastic opportunities in Wellington."

No-one was available for comment from Heron today.

The company has 130 stores, spread across the north of England and the Midlands, and was expecting to create about 120 jobs with its Woolworths acquisitions.

Heron stores were originally set up with a range of low-cost frozen lines but now also contain chilled and dry goods.

The Wellington Woolworths was among 200 stores nationwide, including in Telford Shopping Centre which closed when the retail giant collapsed.

The shopping centre unit remains empty.