The borough's empty Woolworths could be transformed into discount shops after the opening of a 99p Store in New Addington was hailed a success.

Hussein Lalani, co-founder of the budget chain, has ordered his staff to look into the possibility of opening more Croydon outlets.

They will be focusing on the empty Woolies in Addiscombe, Coulsdon, Crystal Palace, Sanderstead and Selsdon.

Of the seven Woolworths shops that closed nine months ago, only two have been filled – in New Addington and North End, Croydon – which is now an H&M fashion store.

Mr Lalani said: "I was not aware of all the ex-Woolworth's in Croydon but I am now asking my property people to undertake a detailed study of the sites and locations to see if they have potential."

A total of 40 of the 44 stores the company has opened across the country in the past nine months or so have been in empty Woolworths.

The 99p Stores in Central Parade, New Addington, opened last month.

Mr Lalani, who is its commercial director, said: "This was a new venture for us because most of the stores we have opened have been in town centres and this is more of a community area.

"It has been a tremendous success and we are already getting 10,000 customers through the door a week."

"People are telling me we are providing the kind of shop Woolworth's should have been but never was."

His interest will come as good news for the district centres, coming on the back of figures which show the number of empty shops across the borough is going down.

Both Christine Samson, district manager for Coulsdon and Purley, and Amber Rusk, her equivalent in Crystal Palace, said getting new owners into the Woolworths shops would be a great boost to the continuing success of the areas.

Ms Rusk said the loss of Woolworths reduced the number of people coming to the area and it was important for new owners to take over the large store.

She added: "It would make a lot of sense to get someone in quickly rather than let it fall into disrepair."

Other shopkeepers in the Triangle agreed.

Brahium Hamadouche, owner of the Little Palace cafe, said: "It's affected the area big time. Everyone is praying for someone to come back but nobody is coming."