TILLS rang for the last time as high street icon Woolworths closed down after almost a century of trading in Colchester.

Woolworths, which has been trading in Colchester for more than 94 years, officially shut for good on Saturday making 75 people redundant.

Boxes of left-over stock including toys and household goods were sold off for £5 in the store’s entrance on Friday while staff finished clearing up. Fixtures and fittings were also for sale.

Everything that is left is to be donated to charity.

Dave Blackery, the store’s manager, said: “Woolworths has a long history.

“The brand will be sorely missed on the high street and my belief is it will come back.

“But this has been going on for six weeks and the staff all want it to come to an end now.

“They were orginally shocked.

“They always thought someone was going to come in and buy it or the Government would step in.

“When we got the closing date it started to sink in and people started feeling emotional.”

He said ten staff have found new jobs, while the remainder had been offered help and advice in seeking employment.