THE High Wycombe Town Centre Partnership has reassured businesses it will be doing all it can to keep trade flowing through the High Street in the wake of Woolworth’s collapse.

Melanie Williams, manager of the Partnership, said the High Street end of town was bound to be affected if the famous chain store were to shut up shop.

She said: “The closing of Woolworth’s in the High Street will obviously have an impact - the historical significance of the store to High Wycombe mean that its loss will be mourned by many.

“Our sympathy remains with the staff, and their families, who face losing their jobs.”

The Wycombe branch joined others across the country on Thursday, with a closing down sale offering up to 50 per cent off stock. Shelves were stripped and queues ran to the far end of the shop.

The store has been based at the same site since 1969. The building had formerly been The Red Lion Hotel, where Winston Churchill once famously addressed the town in 1945.

Miss Williams said the partnership would strive to keep shoppers coming back to the High Street end of town, but said it was vital for businesses to find new ways to attract customers.

She said: “The Town Partnership, having been recently re-launched will do whatever it can to drive footfall and vibrancy into the High Street.

“At this time, as competition is fierce, businesses must do everything they can to respond to the harsh economic climate - they cannot afford to sit and wait for the customer to come through the door, instead they must be increasingly proactive about attracting visitors to the town as a whole.”

Since starting in the role in August, Miss Williams has been busy speaking to businesses to discover the key issues and challenges facing Wycombe.

She said the partnership, along with Wycombe District Council and businesses in the area are busy planning a number of initiatives to bring more visitors in to town, through PR, events and marketing.

Miss Williams said any businesses interested in knowing more can contact the partnership by emailing info@hwtcp.co.uk