Wilko Sunderland staff 'heartbroken' as store closes

Karen Wallace was among the first people to work at Sunderland Wilko

A woman who has worked for the retailer Wilko for nearly three decades says she will mark her store's closure with a "trip to the pub".

Karen Wallace was among the first to work in the Sunderland city centre branch when it opened 28 years ago.

She will be there when the shutters come down on the Fawcett Street building for the final time on Sunday.

All remaining Wilko stores will cease trading by the end of this weekend, with thousands of staff made redundant.

"We're all one big family," Ms Wallace told the BBC.

"We've gone through a lot together: bereavements, happy times, sad times, we've always been there for each other. It's been lovely".

Wilko workers say their final weekend of trade will be "emotional"

Ms Wallace mainly worked on the tills and over the years had become a familiar face with shoppers in the city.

People from all ages and backgrounds would often swap stories there, but elderly and more vulnerable customers relied on the staff for support, she said.

"It's a big store but it's like a corner shop, it was quite a personal place.

"You'd get to know people's problems, they'd talk to you. Some older people have nobody else to talk to and it was lovely. I'll miss everything".

The building, which had four floors of retail space, is one of Wilko's largest

The four-storey building is one of the biggest in the company and its largest in north-east England.

About 70 people worked there before Wilko went into administration in August.

A skeleton team of about 35 workers have stayed to help clear the shop of stock, fixtures and fittings.

Julie Stokoe, who has worked for Wilko for more than 23 years, said it was a "very emotional" final few days.

The team supervisor said: "People have been coming in wishing us all the best... it's just been overwhelming.

"It has been so special. Customers we've had for years have been popping in every day because that is what they always did, and it's pulled at my heartstrings.

"I cant move on until I finally see it close, then I will accept that it has happened, but at this moment I cant accept it. It is really hard."

Friends Win Carter, Aileen Farrell, Irene Winlow, Edith Simmons and Christine Appleton said they were "devastated"

The building is home to a restaurant and café, which was operated by an external company and will close along with the retailer.

But there are fears the loss of this facility and the store will be "devastating" for communities who meet there.

Customer Edith Simmons said: "We just love it here. We've been left work 37 years and we still meet at Wilko, so that still says something.

"It will be a sad day for Sunderland, a sad day for the city."

Wilko Sunderland will close for the final time on Sunday