STAFF at IKEA, Warrington, are being given a cash boost by their company to help them to celebrate the Millennium.

They are among 40,000 of the company's employees, worldwide, who will keep the takings from a day's trading last Saturday.

Staff don't know yet how much they will get, but the prospects are looking good because they have heard that all the company's 153 stores did record trading.

The stores will put their takings into a pot, which will then be divided among all the employees.

The Warrington store stayed open from 7am. till midnight with family fun activities kicked off by Warrington Wolves and their mascot Wolfie. There were plenty of attractions to pack in shoppers, including live bands, clowns, face painters, dancers, disco shopping, puppet shows and a ten pin bowling alley, leading up to a grand finale with a fireworks display.

There was also a draw for a Daewoo car with the proceeds going to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Store spokesperson Jonathan White said it was likely to be another week before the proceeds of the big day are divided up.

The move is seen by the company as a reward to employees all over the world for their "great work."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.