Jobs are at risk in Medway after Woolworths became the latest casualty of the credit crunch.

The one time High Street favourite - which is set to celebrate its centenary in 2009 - was put into administration after potential rescue talks failed.

Medway has the largest concentration of Woolworths stores in Kent with branches in Twydall, Gillingham, Chatham and Strood.

Shoppers queued outside the Strood branch as it opened for business as normal this morning.

Rose Young, who works nearby, said she felt for the employees, who have only been guaranteed their wages until Friday.

She said: “I have friends here who don’t know if they are going to be paid. They are a lovely bunch.”

Andy Dickinson, from Hoo, said: “I think it has changed, compared to the bigger department stores it has become a second class citizen.”

June Foulkes, who lives in Strood, said the news was terrible. She added: “I think people have stopped using it like they used to because of the supermarkets.”

Brenda Higgins, from Warren Wood Road, Rochester, said she would miss the shop if it closes.

“Older people who are going to miss it the most.

“I think they are pretty good with the deals they have but they have a lot of competition from supermarkets.”

• At MFI more than 1,000 jobs are at risk after the furniture firm called in the administrators. MFI, which has a Gillingham store, blamed the downturn in the property market and “severe cash flow pressure”. All orders will be fulfilled or refunded.