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| Scots Woolworths stores shut down | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The first Woolworths branches to end trading in Scotland were due to close for the last time on Saturday. | |
| A total of 17 Scottish branches were closing, with shops in Aberdeen, Ayr, Dundee and Leith among the first to go. | |
| Barring any last-minute rescue, a further 30 stores are due to shut on 29 December and the remaining Scots branches will close on 2 and 5 January. | Barring any last-minute rescue, a further 30 stores are due to shut on 29 December and the remaining Scots branches will close on 2 and 5 January. |
| The chain called in administrators amid mounting debts of £385m. In total, 27,000 UK staff will lose their jobs. | The chain called in administrators amid mounting debts of £385m. In total, 27,000 UK staff will lose their jobs. |
| Employees will be entitled to compensation under the statutory redundancy payment scheme and will be retained for a few days following store closures. | Employees will be entitled to compensation under the statutory redundancy payment scheme and will be retained for a few days following store closures. |
| CLOSURES - PHASE ONE AberdeenArbroathAyrClydebankCorstorphineDundeeDunoonFalkirkFraserburghGlasgow (Dumbarton Road)GreenockKirkintillochKirkwallLanarkLeithPrestwickStornoway | CLOSURES - PHASE ONE AberdeenArbroathAyrClydebankCorstorphineDundeeDunoonFalkirkFraserburghGlasgow (Dumbarton Road)GreenockKirkintillochKirkwallLanarkLeithPrestwickStornoway |
| However, it is expected some stores in prime locations will be reopened by other retailers who have expressed an interest in buying their leases, which could offer job opportunities to redundant staff. | However, it is expected some stores in prime locations will be reopened by other retailers who have expressed an interest in buying their leases, which could offer job opportunities to redundant staff. |
| Last week administrators Deloitte said there was still interest in parts of the business but added it had "not come close" to finding a buyer for the firm. | Last week administrators Deloitte said there was still interest in parts of the business but added it had "not come close" to finding a buyer for the firm. |
| However, it said a range of food, clothes and "value retailers" had made offers to take over the leases at about 300 stores. | However, it said a range of food, clothes and "value retailers" had made offers to take over the leases at about 300 stores. |
| Deloitte said efforts would be made to put workers who were losing their jobs in contact with these potential employers. | Deloitte said efforts would be made to put workers who were losing their jobs in contact with these potential employers. |
| The first round of closures comes nearly 100 years after American F W Woolworth opened his first UK store in Liverpool. | The first round of closures comes nearly 100 years after American F W Woolworth opened his first UK store in Liverpool. |
| The chain is the most high-profile UK High Street casualty of the economic downturn so far. | The chain is the most high-profile UK High Street casualty of the economic downturn so far. |