By Vivienne Paterson

Last updated at 11:56, Saturday, 06 February 2010

Shoppers queued out of the doors of Dunmail Park yesterday morning waiting for the “closing down” sale prompted by Asda’s move into the building later this year.

Shoppers queue for the sale

Dixons, which sells household and electrical goods, will move to another two-storey unit further inside the Maryport Road shopping centre, to make way for Asda.

The store is holding a three-day sale to get rid of items they will not be able to take with them into their new home.

People came from Maryport, Seaton and Workington but most of those spoken to had travelled from the Whitehaven area.

None had been put off by the additional travel required since the collapse or closure of Workington bridges since the floods and all were looking for bargains ranging from glassware to three-piece suites.

Dunmail Park director, Bill Dixon, said a 420-strong queue had formed for an invitation-only sale preview earlier in the week and the queue was now much larger. Concession stores in the main shop have all been moved to units across from the main area. Dixon’s furniture, china and kitchenware will move to the other side of the mall.

“We have to sell everything because we will not have the same amount of room on the other side,” Mr Dixon said.

All showroom goods, plus warehouse stock and all new factory orders will be on sale at lower prices than ever in the company’s history.

Asda’s decision to move into the mall will create up to 350 extra jobs there, Mr Dixon said, and was great news for Dunmail Park and for Workington.

The supermarket is expected to stock a full range of Asda products, including the George clothing range. The firm will also operate the existing petrol station at the Maryport Road site.

First published at 09:00, Saturday, 06 February 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk