With speculation swirling that Woolworths could return to the high street, people across Sussex have reminisced about their memories of the much-loved and much-missed brand.

Well known for its pick ‘n’ mix sweets, Ladybird children’s clothes and selection of bargains, Woolworths closed in 2009 after going into administration at the height of the financial crisis.

At the time of its closure, Sussex was home to 26 stores, from Bexhill to Bognor.

Among those to share their memories of Woolworths was Brighton and Hove City Council leader Bella Sankey.

She said she remembered “Saturdays at Woolies on Western Road [in Brighton] with my dad - getting pick ‘n’ mix sweets and Kylie and Jason records”.

Brighton resident John Wells said: “I vividly remember the many stores as I was growing up. 

“It feels like another lifetime, looking forward to checking out the latest music, video games or movies on cassette, VHS or vinyl.”

Natalie Hemsley remembered the “happy times” working at the Western Road branch during the 80s in the cash office, while Jan Simms from Eastbourne recalled going Christmas shopping at Woolworths and picking up a tin of broken biscuits.

She said: “My nana used to send me down on Saturday to buy a pound of broken biscuits, easy to find as all the loose items were displayed in glass-fronted tins facing the customers.

“You could buy anything there - I bought my first bra there and I saved up to buy a pretty doll that you could feed with a bottle and change her nappy.”

Zoe Whitmore from Worthing worked at Woolworths behind the serving counters on Saturday and school holidays, with her mum promoted to supervisor while also working there for more than two decades.

Zoe said: “I so enjoyed my time there, so did mum. She would have been upset to see Woolworths close.

“It was a great shop to browse round and sold such a variety of goods - so missed.”

Many people also remembered picking up some sweets from Woolworths as children, with Katie Wade admitting to “testing the pick ‘n’ mix before I bought them”.

In 2009 when its British shops closed after the financial crisis, the brand in Germany, where it is known as Woolworth, was saved by HH Holding.

Current HH Holding chief Roman Heini seeks to expand internationally and says the UK is on his "bucket list" of destinations.