SOUTHEND'S brand new Primark store has gone down a storm with shoppers this morning.

The high street store which has replaced the former BHS store, opened its doors at 10am

Queues - all socially distanced - were forming right the way around the store along Whitegate Road by the bus station, from 9am this morning, ready for the grand opening at 10am.

Despite the long queues, shoppers were impressed by the organisation of the staff and the following of social distancing guidelines. Once the store opened at 10am, the queue flowed along quickly.

Echo:

Busy - the queues round Whitegate Road

Security staff were on hand to ensure everything ran smoothly, with friendly Primark staff greeting each customer as it was their turn to go in, along with a dash of hand sanitiser.

Despite only being in the store for around 15 minutes, shopper, Robin Batley, 38, said it was worth the hour wait.

She said: "It was much better than I expected. I bought two tops, candles, and some night dresses.

"I was one of the first in but I was here at 9am so I waited an hour - but it was worth the wait."

"There was even a DJ playing music in the store, which added to the excitement that little bit more!"

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Greetings - A staff member offered hand sanitiser to each customer as they entered the store

Another shopper, Rachel Forcher, 30, said: "We got here about 9.10am. It's nice to have a bigger store and more stuff. There was a lovely welcome when you walked in as well.

"There's definitely a lot more stuff. We went into the other one last week and it was half empty so we couldn't get everything that we wanted.

"So it was nice to come back here today to finish off my shopping and spend a bit more money. 

"I wanted to come in today just because it's new but I think we will come back in a couple of weeks when things have died down a little bit so we can have a proper look around.

"My partner got a coat and a dressing gown, and I got some Christmas decorations, and some nightwear."

The store boasts three floors with a much wider range of products than the former store, in the Royals, which is now closed - it is unclear what will become of the site, which still has old Primark stock visible inside.