Hundreds of people have packed into Wiltshire's Woolworths stores as closing-down sales and hundreds of of shop workers feared for their jobs.

Christmas shoppers are being offered cut-price toys, entertainment and other items at the chain's stores in Chippenham, Devizes and Marlborough.

Administrator Deloitte announced the sale after saying it has so far failed to find a buyer for the struggling firm.

Woolworths has been in business for almost a century but was forced to call in administrators two weeks ago as debts and losses mounted in a worsening high street climate.

The group employs 30,000 staff nationally, with around 25,000 working in retail. More than 200 people work in the county's stores.

Talks on the future of the stores are continuing, Deloitte said. Some stores could close by the end of the month if no offers for the business emerge. If stores do close this month, the administrator said it would consult employees to discuss the support available in the event of redundancies.

Staff at the Woolworths store in Chippenham have said they have been inundated with shoppers since the doomed firm launched its closing down sales.

employee at the High Street branch in the town said: "It has been crazy - it has never been this crazy before.

"We are all completely in the dark about what is going on, we don't know when or even if we are closing.

"We have always been a pretty busy branch and it will be a shame to close.

"From the queues we have had today I think it's fair to say the people of Chippenham love a bargain."

Woolworths in The Brittox, Devizes, has been inundated with shoppers seeking bargains in the closing down sale.

A worker said today: "Everything has been popular, from DVDS to clothing. We have been exceptionally busy today."

Staff in Marlborough also said the shop has been busy.

Administrators Deloitte today released a statement about the sales.

Spokesman Neville Kahn from Deloitte, said: “We continue to make every effort to convert interest in the Woolworth's assets into firm offers.

"While we are still seeking bids from interested parties, Christmas is clearly the busiest time of the year for retailers and it is prudent to do all we can to sell existing stock.

"By moving to a store closing sale and further discounting the stock, we are maximising the sales potential that this period offers.”

John Gorle, national officer for shopworkers' union Usdaw, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the latest developments at the chain are "absolutely devastating" for workers.

Deloitte had previously pledged that stores would carry on trading beyond Christmas while a rescue deal was sought.

Reorganisation services partner Neville Kahn said he was making "every effort" to convert interest in Woolworths into firm offers.

He said: "While we are still seeking bids from interested parties, Christmas is clearly the busiest time of the year for retailers and it is prudent to do all we can to sell existing stock.

By moving to a store closing sale and further discounting the stock, we are maximising the sales potential that this period offers."

Deloitte has already cut 450 jobs at Woolies' head office and support operations in London and Castleton, Rochdale.

It has held talks with former Woolworths chief executive Sir Geoff Mulcahy and Dragon's Den star Theo Paphitis but no deals have been struck.

The complexity of the group's leases and difficulty in restocking the business after Christmas have reportedly put off interested parties.

But rival retailers are understood to have agreed to buy hundreds of store leases - including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Iceland - as many of the group's outlets have planning permission to sell food. Some employees could subsequently find jobs with the new owners.