H&M opened in the former Shrewsbury Woolworths store last month, Pictured are Manager Lisa Brothwood, Matt Lynn, Donna Riley.

Home Bargains took the former store in Oswestry, creating 30 jobs and also took over the former Shrewsbury store, a site it shares with fashion retailer H&M.

H&M opened in Shrewsbury in mid-November in Pride Hill, bringing a major fashion name to the town and creating 25 jobs. Another fashion retailer taking on a Woolies site was The Original Factory Shop which opened in July in Bridgnorth after an investment of more than £250,000.

The 10,220 sq ft store offers an extensive range of men’s, ladies’ and children’s fashions, as well as homewares, electricals and toiletries.

In Welshpool, fashion store M&Co created 10 jobs when it opened in the former Woolworths site.

Grocers took on two of the closed stories, with Spar moving into Ludlow and creating 25 new jobs and Heron Frozen Foods opened its doors in Wellington.

The Newtown Woolworths has been transformed into a CarpetRight storeroom, creating three jobs at the store and new opportunities for carpet fitters.

Still standing empty are stores in Whitchurch, soon to be taken over by Poundstretcher creating up to 12 jobs, and Telford Town Centre.

A spokesman for Hark, which owns Telford Shopping Centre, said it was a key location – and hinted it may not be too much longer before it is back in business.

He said: “There is interest from a retailer but we can’t divulge who they are at the moment. The lease is still with the administrators.”

Shop Direct, the owner of Littlewoods which bought the Woolworths name for £7 million in February, is currently unveiling plans to establish a chain of up to 200 stores.

The home shopping retailer, owned by Sir Frederick and Sir David Barclay, wants to hear from possible franchisees and is not considering running the stores itself.

The scale of Shop Direct will give any Woolworths franchise an advantage over the stores which have opened up in its former sites because it will be able to source goods directly, rather than through a wholesaler.