Tears as Woolies shuts for good

To the staff, it's been like a second family.

To local people, it's been a familiar sight for more than half a century.

But this week the Woolworths store in Moorland Road closed its doors for the very last time.

A handful of people gathered in the road to watch as staff came to the end of a day of tears and memories.

Shoppers had been visiting the store throughout the day to pick up last minute bargains and by 5pm the shelves were completely bare.

The Bath store was one of the last 200 in the Woolworths chain to shut on Tuesday. The firm has become one of the highest profile victims of the credit crunch after going into administration in November with debts of £385 million.

Around 25,000 staff will lose their jobs nationwide including 21 workers in the Bath store.

They were all in the shop on Tuesday saying an emotional farewell.

Manager Ann Abrahams, 50, who has been working for the company for 25 years, said she was gutted to be leaving and said the shop was like her second home.

She said: "I have been here half of my life and it is a really sad day.

"The staff here are like a family to me.

"I would like to thank them all as they have worked really hard in the past year and it has been horrible and is such a horrible time for them all.

"This is a devastating end to the year."

Mandy Elmes, of Southdown, who has worked in the shop for more than eight years, said: "It was just like being part of a big family here.

"I just feel sorry for the shops left here and I hope that people still support Moorland Road and still come here.

"Woolworths will be sorely missed and whatever comes here has got big shoes to fill."

Mrs Abrahams said the customers had been just as affected by the closure.

She said: "We have had lots of people in here today crying, and the majority of people are very sorry for us and all thought the store would be saved."

Customer Mark Wilson, 34, of Lansdown, said he remembered shopping in the store when he was just five years old.

He said: "The shop is a huge part of British history.

"It is a sad loss for Bath and it will be really hard for the people of Moorland Road to come to terms with."

Matthew Searle, 23, of Oldfield Park said he always went in the store whenever he was in Moorland Road.

He said: "It will be strange when it is gone as it is such a huge part of Moorland Road.

"I think most people, like me, would always go in if they were passing by.

"The staff were always so friendly and welcoming. It will be missed by everyone."

Traders in the street said they were unsure as to what they would like to see take Woolworths' place.

Former chairman of the Moorland Road Association Barry Cruse said if the right shop replaced Woolworths then other businesses in the street would not suffer.

He said: "I think the feeling of sadness will soon change to one of perhaps optimism that something will open that will benefit the street.

"It is not good to dwell on the past and Woolworths is now shut and we need to get on with it.

"Hopefully something will come which will benefit traders as well as shoppers in the area but I am at a loss as to what that will be.

"Whatever takes its place, with the current economic climate it will have a big hill to climb but Moorland Road is still alive and thriving.

"If the right shop comes here, it will continue to do so."