WOOLWORTHS was back in the news this week in one of the downsides to the speed with which technology moves information around the globe.

Or in this case, misinformation. Since confirmed to be a hoax, it was announced earlier this week that Woolworths would be returning to the high street with three trial stores due to open late next year.

Worcester News:

One of the best remembered images of the fire in 1979

But such is the fondness with which the store is remembered, we thought we’d take a look back in the archives to see what stories we could find.

Of course, the biggest one of all related to the Worcester branch in High Street was the fire that in October 1979 which cause such damage.

But in a tribute to the staff’s resilience, things were back up and running again only 10 days later – albeit under reduced circumstances.

Happily, there were other cheerier pictures we found before the store closed its doors for good in 2009.