SHOPWORKERS who became close friends in a family-run department store are marking the 25th anniversary of its closure with a reunion next month.

Staff from the old Doggarts store, in Crook, are trying to trace former colleagues in time for the party, at the Croft Social Club on Saturday, February 9, at 7.30pm.

One of the organisers, Sheila Wilthew, has many happy memories of her job at the store, where she worked in the haberdashery department.

She started at 15, left five years later when she married her husband, Billy, then went back to work part-time after her children, Robert and Susan, were born.

Mrs Wilthew, from Frosterley, said: "We felt like one big happy family. We used to meet up outside work and it was all very friendly.

"It was a lovely place to work and I was very happy there. I left before it closed, to go to the Co-op in Frosterley, so I've only ever had two jobs."

The Crook branch was one of a chain run by the Doggart family which extended across the North-East to places including Gateshead, Stockton, Durham, Chester-le-Street, Darlington and Bishop Auckland.

Anyone wishing to attend the party can contact Mrs Wilthew on (01388) 527129, Brian Ward on (01388) 764270 or Barbara Dennis on (01388) 763950 before January 31.