Spar will move into Woolies site

Ludlow's former Woolworths store is to become a Spar shop.

Sarah Deakin, marketing manager for Tates Ltd, which owns Spar Convenience Stores, today confirmed the move.

She said: "I can confirm that it will be a Spar but I don't know when it is coming at the moment.

"We are really excited about it. Ludlow is a lovely place."

She said the company had purchased the store but the organisation still needed to upgrade the electricity supply before setting a date for opening.

Meanwhile, while preparations are made for the opening of the Spar store, a group of artists will be using the space at the redundant Woolworths in Castle Square with a live painting event in the window on Saturday and Sunday.

The event will be led by Ludlow-based artist Amelia Johnstone, board member and tutor at Hereford College of Art, and art students who will paint panels for display in the windows at the site.

The artists already have access to the former Threshers shop in the town with a painting by Tony Turner hung in the windows earlier this week.

Organisers aim to create an Art in Ludlow brand to put the town on the map as a place to visit for art-lovers all year round.

An art trail map will mark a route from Lower Corve Street to Dinham, taking people via galleries, shops and restaurants where art will be on display.

To date, 22 venues have agreed to take part, which is more than halfway towards the planned target of 40 shops.

The fate of the Woolworths store in nearby Bridgnorth is still unknown.