A Woolworths-inspired store called Wellworth It! will open at Ledbury in Herefordshire, in March.

The latest in a string of ‘son of Woolies’ shops will open in a former Woolworths unit and stock similar products including homewares, garden, toys and pick ‘n’ mix.

Retail group Midland Leisure International (MLI) will sign a 10-year lease on the shop today (Friday) or Monday.

MLI managing director Mark Hatto said: “We’re trying to replace the gap left in the market. Woolworths traded well in this town.”

MLI will consider opening more Wellworth It! stores if the shop trades well. It operates three other general merchandise stores, under the fascia Merlins, at Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, Witney in Oxfordshire and Monmouth in Wales.

The collapse of Woolworths has sparked a flurry of similar retailers rising from the ashes - mostly in ex-Woolworths stores.

Alworths, set up by former Woolworths director Andy Latham, has four shops; Wellworths was launched in Dorset by the ex-manager of that Woolies store; WeeW opened in Stornoway; and Well Worth It opened in North Tyneside.

Woolworths’ own brand Worthit! was bought by Shop Direct last year, along with the Woolworths brand, to run as an online store.

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