STAFF PRAISED AS WOOLWORTHS CLOSES

John Gorle, national officer for shop workers' union Usdaw, said it was a "a testament" to the "professionalism" of the firm's 27,000 workforce.

The last 200 Woolworths stores closed their doors for the final time after a massive clearance sale during which even the stores' fixtures and fittings were sold off at bargain prices. The firm's 807 stores were closed in stages from the final weeks of December.

Mr Gorle said it was "not uncommon" for a Woolworths employee to have a record of 15 to 20 years of service - a rarity among the usually transient retail workforce.

"It wasn't just a job, for many it has been a way of life," he said.

"I would be hard pushed to find another group of workers that would have shown the professionalism of the Woolworths workers. Many others would have walked off the job and frankly, I couldn't have blamed them.

"I think this is a testament to them, their self respect and pride meant that they wanted to see the job done properly right up until the last day."

The union will now seek assurances from the firms buying the former Woolworths stores that they would give priority to the company's former workers when looking for their own staff.

Iceland has agreed to work with Usdaw officials to ensure former Woolworths employees are considered for new positions.

Mr Gorle said: "It has been an approach that has worked with Iceland and we are hopeful it will help with other buyers."