"When I was a child, the highlight of a trip to Diss was a visit to Woolworths in Mere Street," she said.

"In those days they had counters at child height and assistants in maroon uniforms keeping a sharp eye out for mini shoplifters."

Mrs Matthews recalled that during the Second World War her grandmother bought her specs from Woolies and possibly her dentures, with one size fitting all.

"While we were there she might buy me some hairslides," added Mrs matthews.

"Does anyone remember the round brown plastic ones sometimes with moulded flowers on them?

"Later there were some in the shape of pink or blue bows. I would then wait while my gran sorted through the 'pearl' necklaces and the hankies."

Mrs Matthews said that after the war, Woolworths was one of the first shops to sell Kleeware plastic dolls house furniture and little bright pink rubbery dolls to go in the prams and highchairs.

"These are now collectors items and fortunately I have kept some of mine," she said.

"When I was a bit older, I would bike into Diss to the pictures and of course visit Woolies.

"I got my first nail varnish from there –L'onglex clear, and then the lipstick, Tangee Natural.

"I was not allowed Californian Poppy perfume but there was a deodorant called, I believe, Snowflake.

"It was all part of a girl's growing up, as were my first earrings, small screw-on pearls, also from Woolies.

"Cheap and cheerful it may have been but Woolies has been such a part of our lives that its literally the end of civilisation as we know it."

What are your Woolworths Memories? Write to Memory Lane, Diss Express, Mere Street, Diss IP22 4AE or email editorial@dissexpress.co.uk