Former Woolworths branch in Dorchester opens as ‘Wellies’ today with manager Claire Robertson back at the helm.
The new store will stock many of the same lines as the original retail outlet, including pick'n'mix but will no longer sell CDs, DVDs or clothing.

Ms Robertson, who always insisted that her branch was 'profitable', started her 18-year career with Woolworths as a Saturday girl in Yeovil, before moving on to manage the Dorchester branch in South Street.

The 34-year old secured financial backing from a consortium led by the owner of the premises, having submitted her CV and a business plan to the landlord upon news that the retail chain was about to close.

Ms Robertson tod the Dorset Echo: "I came up with a business plan to have a shop selling all those things that we sell here. I thought then that there had to be a chance of doing something in this store - I couldn't ask for a better location."

Many of the former members of staff will join Ms Robertson at Wellworths and she is please to have what she describes as a 'fantastic team', back together.

Radio DJ Chris Evans officially opened the store at 10am this morning, along with Dorchester town crier Alistair Chisholm.