A new discount store has opened in the former branch of Woolworths in Nailsea – and business is proving to be brisk.

Hundreds of shoppers flocked through the doors of The Original Factory Shop which opened a day ahead of schedule.

The 8,100sq ft store, which was occupied by Woolworths until January this year, has been completely refitted.

It now stocks a range of homewares, women's, children's and men's clothes as well as DVDs, garden equipment, electricals, handbags and shoes.

A number of ex-Woolworths employees are also back behind the tills after securing new jobs at the High Street store.

Mum-of-three Joanne Vick, 36, of Nailsea, worked as a sales assistant at Woolworths in the town before the store closed.

Miss Vick said: "It's great to be back at work as I was unemployed for a while after losing my job at Woolworths.

"Four of us that used to work for Woolworths have now got new jobs here. I am really glad this job came along and that this store has opened because we already have a number of empty shops in the town. The customers are really happy that a store like this has opened in Nailsea."

The Factory Shop chain, which is based in the North West, has 100 stores across the UK, including one at Minehead and one at Ilfracombe.

It is planning to open another store at the former Somerfield supermarket in Shirehampton later this year.

Manager Kerry Loughlin, 38, has been a store manager for 20 years and used to work at Woolworths in Glasgow.

Mrs Loughlin said: "We are like a mini-department store and offer a lot of different lines, from fashion to footwear to homewares. We have had a lot of support from the local community, many who really felt the loss of Woolworths closing.

"Our sales figures have exceeded our expectations in the first couple of days and the shop has been really busy. The feedback we have received from the local community has been really positive and they feel that this store is what Nailsea needs."

The store will have new stock, much of which is either branded or was originally made for other High Street names, arriving each week.

Shoppers also welcomed the arrival of the new store, which has created 12 new jobs, in the town.

Office worker Kirstie Smith, 29, of Clevedon, said: "I think it is pretty good and there are lots of bargains to be had.

"It is really good to see something here in place of Woolworths."

Pam Camp, 62, of Nailsea, a retired factory worker.

Mrs Camp said: "There is a good variety of products on offer and I think I will be a regular customer here. I am pleased to see when one of the empty units in the town is being taken by a new business."

Elaine Goscombe, 66, of Flax Bourton, was shopping with her husband Lionel, who bought a pair of trainers.

Mrs Goscombe, a retired court usher, said: "We came to Nailsea to look around the market and noticed this new shop was open.

"It is just the sort of thing Nailsea needs."

Nailsea has seen a number of stores shut down as a result of the recession, including Ronto's, Rosebury's and Heritage of Nailsea gift and homewares store.

But things are starting to look up for the town, despite the economic downturn, with a number of new businesses opening and moving to larger premises within Crown Glass Place, Somerset Square and the High Street.

The Pasta Factory is moving to a larger unit at Colliers Walk, a new takeaway is due to open in Station Road and expanding local accountants Cleverdon and Co has just opened new, larger offices.

The news that the store has opened has been welcomed by the town's chamber commerce, which has looking at ways to boost business in Nailsea for the past several months.

Traders say footfall to the east end of the High Street had fallen since the closure of Woolworths.

Nailsea Chamber of Trade and Commerce chairman Gilly Chu, who runs Gilly's Cafe in the High Street, said: "It is great news to see the former Woolworths store being taken over and I hope that this new business will increase footfall to the town.

"Once people come to Nailsea they will be able to see everything else the town has to offer them."