SHOPPERS in Evesham were left in shock after it was announced a national High Street retailer with a branch in the town had gone into administration.

Woolworths revealed its stores could no longer operate as a going concern and called in administrators Deloitte in an attempt to rescue the chain.

All 815 stores will stay open for the time being, but 30,000 jobs are at risk after the chain buckled under its £385m debt.

Town centre shoppers were left shocked as the news spread. They hoped the Evesham branch would be able to survive the current economic downturn and feared closure would be disastrous for the town.

Audrey Smith, from Stratford, said: “It is a terrible shame. I would miss it if it closed. I come here once a week to shop and remember shopping in Woolworths when I was a child. It has changed a lot.”

Angie Witchard, of Bretforton, said: “It is pants. I am gobsmacked. It is not good for Evesham. It is one of the biggest shops in the town. It is awful. How can it go into administration? It will be horrible if it closes. It is going to ruin the town.”

Don Thompson, of Broadway Road, said: “It was quite a surprise. It seems ashame. It is a well known name, it must be worth millions. If it was to close it would be ashame as it pulls people into town. It is another nail in the coffin of Evesham.”

Deloitte said the company would stay open past Christmas and employees would be paid.

Dan Butters, who works for the administrator, said: “In the last 24 hours, we have received expressions of interest from a number of parties for both the retail and wholesale business.”