MORE former Wilko stores have been given a new lease of life as Poundland stores.
The beloved high street chain's final remaining sites shut for good on October 8.
Brits across the country were left devastated as Wilko plunged into administration on August 10
But since then, a number of stores have been snapped up by rivals.
Discount chain Poundland is among those to have bought ex-Wilko sites.
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Poundland bosses took on 71 sites - and another nine opened up doors to customers keen to snag a bargain on Saturday.
The retailer had already reopened 28 former Wilko's stores since September 30.
But Poundland was forced scrap plans to take over one store in Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, after surveys done on the building showed the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).
Stores reopened in a hurry as Poundland are set to receive a full makeover in 2024.
The shops will mostly include Poundland items but also a selection of Wilko products that weren't sold during the closing-down sales.
On Saturday, nine former Wilko shops turned into Poundlands opened in:
- The Bay Tree Centre, Brentwood
- George Street, Stamford Quarter, Altrincham
- The Priory Centre, Worksop
- The Broadway, West Ealing
- High Road, Wembley
- Town Square, Six Acre Shopping Centre, Sale
- Byron Place, Seaham, Durham
- Selly Oak Shopping Park, Selly Oak, Birmingham
- Jackson Square, Bishops Stortford
It comes after 28 Poundland reopened Wilko's at the following sites:
- Broad Street, Stafford
- Pendle Rise Shopping Centre, Nelson
- The Peel Centre, Great Portwood Street, Stockport
- The Mall, Church Street, Eccles
- 36-40 London Street, Southport
- Lord Street, Leigh
- 22/28 East Street, Barking
- 88-90 High Street, Maidenhead
- 2 -12 Bede Precinct, Viking Centre, Jarrow
- Unit 2 The Broadway, Scunthorpe
- Nottingham Street, Melton Mowbray
- Bank Road, Matlock
- Welsh Street, Chepstow
- The Kimberley Shopping Centre, Greens Lane, Nottingham,
- High Street, Worcester
- Civic Way, Marina Walk, Ellesmere Port
- Cary Lane, Brigg
- Fore Street, Redruth
- Victoria Road, Ferndown
- Crane Street, Torfaen, Pontypool, South Wales
- Church Street, Ripley, Derbyshire
- Deansgate, Bolton
- The Interchange Centre, West Street, Gateshead
- Market Square, Bicester
- Orton Gate Shopping Centre, Peterborough
- Bradfield Road, Sheffield
- Manors Walk Shopping Nall, Cramlington
- Shrewsbury Mall, Market Street, Rugeley
Darren Kay, Poundland's retail director, said: "We're proud that to date, we're the only retailer that’s delivered on its promise to re-open Wilko stores and offer roles to their people.
"In four short weeks, we'll have opened 37 Wilko stores – an amazing achievement by hundreds of colleagues right across our Poundland business.
"I'd like to thank them for all the hard work that’s making sure these former Wilko stores begin their new Poundland journeys in such good shape.
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"While more extensive refits will be scheduled for the new year, we look forward to welcoming customers old and new to their new stores this weekend."
Poundland also opened a brand new store at Queens Retail Park in Stafford on Saturday.
The new store will feature Poundland's widest ranges and create 15 new roles.
Poundland aims to open all the former Wilko stores it bought by the end of 2023.
