WOOLWORTHS may be in administration but its Weymouth branch in New Bond Street was bustling thanks to a last-minute ‘biggest ever’ sale.

Posters advertising 50 per cent price reductions filled the windows and inside till queues stretched to the back of the store.

Christmas goods and larger toys were subject to reductions of 30 per cent or more, whilst children’s clothes, stationery, games and household goods were 20 per cent cheaper.

Shoppers in Weymouth were grateful for the opportunity to cut their Christmas costs, but regretted that the high street stalwart was in difficulties.

Bryan Smith, a prison officer from Portland, said: “Unfortunately, Woolies’ loss is the public’s gain. At half price I can afford to buy my little girls a Bratz toy each.”

Weymouth pensioner Jean Wellman said: “Being in Woolworths yesterday, you wouldn’t believe it was going into liquidation.”

She added: “Woolworths’ problem is that it tried to do too many things.”

Debbie Adams from Broadwey was shopping when she saw the sale signs.

She said: “I hope it’s not the end. I blame the supermarkets – Woolworths has been pushed out by the big boys.”

Tracey Goldsworthy from Weymouth also purchased some Christmas bargains.

She said: “I feel sorry for the staff. We’ve come in looking for bargains and these people don’t know what’ll happen to their jobs.”

Claire Oliver, 20 and her sister Kate, 16, from Weymouth, were finishing their Christmas shopping.

Claire said: “I love Woolworths. It’s got everything from DVDs to kids’ toys – it always has the latest things. I’ll definitely miss it. It can’t be beaten for value for money.”

The Woolworths store in Dorchester was also packed with bargain hunters.

The chain’s administrators, Deloitte & Touche LLP, announced a cut of 450 support jobs in London and Rochdale in what is expected to be the first of many job cuts at Woolworths.

Earlier this week Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Theo Paphitis was close to purchasing part of Woolworths plc and Entertainment UK Limited, which entered administration on November 27, but this fell through.