A SINGLE price discount retailer is expected to take up residence in the empty Woolworths store in the centre of Andover.

Woolies closed its doors on 6 January and since then Poundland has been taking on many of the empty stores across the country and has pledged to create 1,500 jobs during this financial year.

Now Test Valley Borough Council has received an application for external signs for Poundland at the High Street store in Andover.

The company says that it sells 3,000 lines in its shops – for just one pound. Some of those it has employed in other stores have been former Woolies employees.

When the company announced plans for 30 new stores, its chief executive Jim McCarthy said: “It is fantastic news that Poundland has filled the Woolworths gap in a number of product categories, and by offering shoppers amazing value on essential household products with a single price point of just £1.

“We are proud to have been able to offer employment to so many ex-Woolworths staff who bring great experience to Poundland.”