So you thought we’d seen the last of the much-loved high street chain Woolworths? But now it seems the brand is about to be relaunched into the 21^st century as an on-line retailer.

According to recent reports, the Barclay twins (owners of the Daily Telegraph) plan to capitalise on a born-again Woolworths e-store. The chain’s children’s clothing line Ladybird will also be sold on-line.

Sir David and Frederick Barclay bought Woolworths when went into administration in November and after 800 stores closed. A total of almost 30,000 staff lost their jobs.

And while the on-line Woolies will not offer an employment lifeline for most of these ex-workers, the move does show that e-retailing is big news even in a recession.

The brands have been bought by Shop Direct Group, which is owned by the Barclays. They will be relaunched alongside their other e-tail outlets such as Great Universal.

The company’s chief executive, Mark Newton-Jones, is reported as saying: “We are confident that Woolworths, as an online brand, will once again prosper and quite rightly stay at the heart of British retailing.”

The new on-line Woolworth’s could be on-line by the summer.