Shop Direct, the owners of Littlewoods, has snapped up the Woolworths name with plans to trade online.
The site, woolworths.co.uk, is now listed as being part of Shop Direct Home Shopping Limited.

A message on the site reads: "Well worth the wait, Woolworths back soon!
"We've got high hopes and big ideas for the Woolworths we want to bring back to you!
"Thanks for your interest and watch this space."

Shop Directs chief executive Mark Newton-Jones, said the firm would move away from the mis-matched lines Woolworths had been carrying.

He said: "We don't expect to sell ironing boards or washing-up bowls that never sat comfortably."

Shop Direct said in its January trading update it would move more to online and Woolworths brand name is seen as a first step.

At that time the group announced sales up 9% for the six-week period with online sales growth of 44%.

One of the consequences of the online boom is the proposed closure of the Crosby Contact (Call) Centre and a limited number of changes at some other sites.

As a result, the group is currently in a 90-day consultation period with 1,150 employees who could lose their jobs.