Woolies plans to slash prices

The stores in Dudley Market Place and Walsall town centre are among the first 206 due to close. There will be another 200 stores close on December 30, another 200 on January 2 and the final closures on January 5.

Administrators Deloitte, added the moves would effect 22,000 permanent staff and 5,000 temporary workers. Stores are set to be flooded with 50 million extra items over the next week in the run-up to Christmas.

Discounts, which are already up to 50 per cent will be slashed even more as Deloitte looks to clear stock.

Signs in stores will also show a countdown to their final closure dates to encourage shoppers, as Woolies' staff brace themselves for redundancies.

Joint administrator Neville Khan said: "It is a very difficult situation for a lot of people, particularly the staff. We are trying to deal with it in as sensitive a way as possible."

But shopworkers' union Usdaw added it was "appalled" at the news, adding it had been told every store would be given just 10 days' notice before they closed.

Staff would also be asked to work up to three days afterwards to clear up.

National officer John Gorle said: "Redundancy is devastating at any time of the year, but particularly so at Christmas.

"We are currently talking with the administrators to secure the best possible terms for our members with regards to pensions, holiday pay and the speed of receipt of redundancy pay."

Woolworths has been in business for 99 years but was forced to call in administrators last month,

as debts and losses mounted in a worsening high street climate.