Woolworths could be set to return to Britain's high street

Woolworths could be set to make a comeback to the British high street almost 10 years since the retailer shut its doors after collapsing.

Tony Page, the company's former managing director, said he has approached shopping giant Shop Direct, which owns the Woolworths brand, to repurchase the name in a bid of launching a series of stores.

"I am still emotionally attached to it," he told the Daily Star.

"I still think it has got a role in the future. I have contacted Shop Direct and said 'you're not using the brand any more, would you consider giving it to someone who would?'"

Page added that should his plea prove successful, Woolworths stores would be place within the community rather than in big shopping centres.

"I feel as though if the brand name was available it would still be a possibility to bring it back [to high streets]," he said. "I still absolutely think it would still be a physical retailer.

"I would want it to be much more a part of the community. The stores that really used to do well were those that were at the heart of the community, rather than being in the big shopping centres."

Woolworths entered administration late in 2008 after racking up almost £400m in debt, with administrators Deloitte closing all the 807 stores between 27 December 2008 and 6 January 2009, which resulted in 27,000 job losses. Shop Direct purchased the name a month later and continued to operate Woolworths website until it closed down in 2015.

The British high street has endured turbulent times recently, with a number of firms, including BHS, force into administration amid a drastic change in consumers' shopping patterns. Page, however, said Woolworths could be successful even in the current environment.

"I strongly believe the core of Woolworths, however, was – and still could be – a strong and prosperous business," he added.