There was a strange air of unreality about Woolworths on Saturday - its final day of business.

As shoppers wandered around the store in Maidstone’s Week Street for the last time, they discovered that most of the stock had already gone. Instead they were faced with aisle after aisle of identical empty shelving units.

The store resembled a maze in a fairground hall of mirrors more than anything else and after traipsing up and down for a few minutes, most people just felt the need to get out.

Store manager Shaun Clark however remained cheerful.

Smiling, he said: "Staff morale is high. And we’re going to have a party here tonight, which we’re all looking forward to."

Mr Clark had managed the store for the past six years. He estimated there was perhaps another week’s work for himself and some of the 64 staff as they completed the paperwork and transferred records to the head office. Mr Clark is lucky; he has found himself a new job, although he declined to say where.

Among the shoppers who still found bargains to pick up was Yasmin Muttiah from Barming. Clutching a bundle of greetings cards, she explained that she was stocking up for future birthdays. She said: "I don’t need them at the moment, but at 80 per cent off, you can’t go wrong."

Mrs Muttiah said she had been shopping in the Maidstone store for four or five years, and before that, when living abroad had used a branch in Germany.

She said: "It is sad to see it go. There were always some things you came to Woolworths for."

Which things exactly? She thought a little: "Well, to use the passport photo machine and to buy rubber bath mats."

Jan Bailey, 60, was making her second visit to the shop that day. She said: "I bought some things earlier at 70 per cent off. Now I’m buying things at 80 per cent off."

But Mrs Bailey, from Ringlestone, admitted she was being driven by nostalgia as much as anything. She said: "I’ve found these two mugs with the names of my grandchildren on them. They’re a bit babyish really, I just thought it would be nice for them to have something from Woolworths.

"I’ve always liked shopping here; it had such a nice atmosphere. And my sister used to work here. It’s all rather sad, " she said, adding wistfully: "In fact I might just keep a few things myself for the sake of posterity."

Karen Tucker, 42, who was helping herself at the famous Woolies Pick 'n’ Mix counter was a little more philosophical.

She said: "I lived in Maidstone for 30 years before moving to Tonbridge and Woolies was always here. But of course there are always changes. Shops come and go: Timothy Whites, Chiesmans. Where are they now?"

As the day progressed, there was less and less to buy, until it seemed all that was left were a handfull of AA travel guides and - ironically - the Pick 'n’ Mix counter.