The former flagship Woolworths store in Kingswinford has been put up for rent after standing empty since the firm folded at the beginning of the year.

Businesses are being sought to take over the unit in Market Street, which has a price tag of £47,500 a year. It became available late last week and boards are now outside the building to advertise the lease. Property consultants Bruton Knowles are overseeing the search to find a tenant for the store and say they have already had calls from interested parties.

Consultants say they expect interest in the property to be high as it is in the heart of Kingswinford and in the main shopping area.

It is unknown if the store will remain a single unit or whether it will be divided.

Bruton Knowles spokesman Sarah Avril said: “It is still very early days for the store at the moment and has only been available for a very short time. However there has already been interest in the site and we are expecting more over the coming weeks.”

The branch of Woolworths closed along with others across the country when the firm went into administration at the end of December.

Shopkeepers in the town say trade has suffered since the closure.

Representatives from Bruton Knowles said security measures were in place at the site.

Although many former Woolworths sites across the country remain unused there has been interest in shops in the Midlands.

Earlier this month it was announced Stafford’s former Woolworths store, in Gaolgate Street, was to take on a new lease of life as a Sports Direct store. And the former Woolies store in Bloxwich High Street is set to be snapped up by a mystery buyer.

Former stores in the Welsh seaside towns of Porthmadog and Barmouth have also been taken over.