I’M glad to see that the old Woolies store has been transformed before it fell in to complete ruin.

The building had been empty since the great icon of the high street went into administration closing in December 2008.

Since that time windows had been shattered and boarded up and probably the best known shop in town was becoming a blot on the landscape.

Then just in time along came rescue.

It’s just a pity it had to be another cheapo shop that had the bravery to open up in hard times.

Poundland has been one business which has benefited and soared during the awful recession.

With its convenient site it will certainly hit the competition - and there’s plenty.

At least the store has been brought back to life and carries on the Woolies’ tradition. When they opened everything on sale was sixpence - today inflation means that everything is £1.

And Leigh seems to like it - it was heaving just like the old days of Woolies on Tuesday.

My colleague tells me he refused to go in Woolworths when he was a little lad because there were so many people they kept knocking his cap off!