NUT members at Morecambe High School wanted to show their solidarity with the 35 staff who've been made redundant so their representative, Sam Uddin, took in a letter and a donation.

Duty manager Amanda Knott said: "The letter said they were very sorry at the way things had turned out and they wanted to send their good wishes. The fact that they had gone to such trouble for people they don't know gave myself and my team a real lift.

Through the Guardian we wanted to say thank you and show there are some good people about. It restores your faith in humanity."

Amanda, who has worked at the Lancaster store for 15 years, also thanked the team from the Job Centre who had spent a whole day advising staff.

Woolworths has been part of Lancaster's shopping scene for decades, firstly in Penny Street and most recently in Market Square.

In the run-up to the closure, Amanda said the vast majority of customers had been very sympathetic to staff who would particularly miss those customers, many of them elderly, who would visit on a daily basis, often just to say hello.

n THE future of two of St Nicholas Arcades' busiest shops looks bleak after the companies both filed for administration last week.

It is uncertain when children's clothes store Adams Kids and menswear fashion outlet Officers Club will close down. However, St Nicholas Arcades manager Jerry North said that his thoughts were with staff at both shops.

He said: "I've spoken to both branch managers and the administration process can be a lengthy one.

"At the moment my thoughts are with the staff as it is such an awful time for this kind of thing to happen, and they don't know when or if they'll be losing their jobs.

"Both shops are busy ones in the arcade, and Adams Lancaster is the lead performer in the North West.

"I think things will probably be much clearer in the New Year."

*Do you have memories of Woolies over the years? Post your comments here or email them to guardian@lmnews.co.uk