WOOLWORTHS' decision to close its Big W out-of-town mega-stores has raised concerns about the futures of scores of North-East workers.

The company plans to scrap the warehouse-style superstores and use the sites for smaller so-called destination stores, selling a narrower range of goods.

Although no decision has been made on the fate of the Big W at Stockton, elsewhere, unwanted space will be sublet, sold off or closed.

The decision marks a sad end for the Big W experiment - the creation of vast stores selling everything from DVD players to fertiliser seed - once hailed as the future of shopping.

Stockton Big W, formerly the Dickens DIY superstore in Portrack Lane, was opened by Coronation Street actress Liz Dawn in October 2000.

The 100,000sq ft development was hailed as the flagship of the Big W brand, bringing together products sold by every brand in the Kingfisher Group, including B&Q, Woolworths and Superdrug. At opening, the store carried 53,000 product lines.

More than 2,500 people applied for 200 jobs there.

Many retail analysts forecast the mega-store concept pioneered by Big W would wipe out smaller DIY stores.

But now, chief executive Trevor Bish-Jones admits the idea was too ambitious.

The 21 outlets were just too big, said Mr Bish-Jones.

In a bid to cut the group's losses, he has approved a plan to use the down-sized stores as smaller scale competition for Toys 'R' Us and Mothercare.

Talks are under way with retailers such as Matalan and TK Maxx, which Mr Bish-Jones regards as ideal retail neighbours.

Mr Bish-Jones revealed his plans for the chain's biggest outlets as the group announced full-year profits at the top of City expectations - up 32 per cent at £70m.