THE high street revolution at Wellworths in Dorchester is still going strong after six months and shows no signs of stopping.

The store opened its doors back on March 11, rising from the ashes of the town’s old Woolworths store in an opening ceremony featuring DJ Chris Evans.

Half a year on manager Claire Robertson says she is delighted with what her venture has achieved.

She said: “What is amazing is all the goodwill we continue to have. And it is not just from local people. Visitors from all over the country are still calling in at the store and wishing us good luck.”

Claire had previously spent all of her working life with Woolworths so is pleased with the way the new store has been embraced by the local community and the whole country, with the store even featuring in a BBC documentary.

She said the signs so far suggest the store will meet all its targets for its opening year.

Vernon Kerswell, 21, who appeared on Dragons’ Den a week ago, also praised Wellworths as he showed off a new toy he has developed – a remote-control toy car which turns into an helicopter.

He said: “Previously we could have never got into Woolworths because of all the management levels.

“But now Wellworths is being managed by just the store owner we can come in here instantly and set up.

“I think if Woolworths had done stuff like this they’d still be around today.”

Vernon believes his own success and Wellworths offer a beacon of hope in these unsure economic times.

He said: “I think people like Claire and myself, we’re the green shoots of the recovery. We’re getting rid of the old things which didn’t work and making it brand new with highly innovative ways of marketing.”

Claire met Vernon at a trade fair and immediately arranged to stock his Extreme Fliers products.