Poundworld claims to have opened Britain's biggest pound store in a 12,500sq ft former Woolworths site in Nottingham.

"From our investigations we are not aware of anyone else with a pound store this size," said operations director Mark Ward.

Poundworld's turnover in the year ending March 2009 was more than £75m and would reach £100m within a year, he said.

The family-run company now runs 75 stores, primarily in the north and midlands, and it plans to open a further seven stores by Christmas, including opening its first two stores in London.