Ending 99 years of trading Woolworths has started closing its more than 800 branches across the UK, leaving about 27,000 employees looking for a new job, and about £300million of debts.

An iconic general store, nearly every living Britain will have some fond memories of this shopping giant which had been entrenched in the social order - but it's over for this seemingly stalwart member of the high street, a victim of current trading conditions and the credit crunch.