The Didcot branch of failed department store Alworths will re-open after most of the UK branches were snapped up by discount retailer Poundstretcher.

Administrator Neil Bennett of finance firm Leonard Curtis said: “We had a lot of interest in the business from the start, resulting in the sale to Poundstretcher.

“We are delighted that the majority of the 235 jobs across the whole company have been saved and 15 of the stores have joined the Poundstretcher chain.

"This is a particularly good result for us, for the employees of the business, the creditors of the Alworths company, and for the British high street. We wish the staff and the customers of all these stores the very best."

While some of the Alworths stores had continued to trade during the five-week administration period, the Didcot branch closed on April 11 with the loss of 13 jobs.

Administrators hope maany of those will be able to return to work at the Poundstretcher store.

The Didcot branch was formerly a Woolworths and was the first to re-open under the Alworths brand in November 2009.

But last July it moved to premises less than half the size in the Orchard Centre, to make way for Curry’s.