THIS week we have chosen photographs from the digital archives of Pontypool Museum looking back at Woolworths stores in Torfaen.

In late 2008 and early 2009, all 807 branches of the high street store were closed, 11 of which were located in Gwent.

The company had two branches within the borough – in Pontypool and in Cwmbran.

Selling a range of items from pick’n’mix sweets to music and toys, the retailers were commonly seen across the UK and were a staple part of most towns.

One of the photos shows the Pontypool store in 1937, with a number of its staff outside celebrating the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

The Pontypool branch was located on George Street.

The other image, taken in 1954, shows staff working at the confectionary counter.

The Pontypool store closed on January 3, 2009 while the Cwmbran store, in General Rees Square, closed three days later on January 6.

These images were donated by the Pontypool Museum as part of its digital archive, which aims to preserve historic documents, images and records from the area.

To find out more about the digital archive, contact the museum at pontypoolmuseum@hotmail.co.uk or call 01495 752036.

The Free Press thanks Pontypool Museum for allowing us to print the images.