THEY came, they spent and then.... they went.

With satisfied smiles, and bags and bags of bargains,

Primark fans showed their true appreciation yesterday.

As the store celebrated its return to Derby, thousands of

shoppers splashed their cash and snapped up rails of its

cut-price clothing.

Gaggles of girls queued outside waiting for the bigger,

brighter store to reveal its new looks.

And when the doors finally opened, dedicated followers of

fashion – young and old – rushed inside.

“I've been saving up for weeks,” laughed 16-year-old Amy

Wicke, from Allestree, who turned up at 6.30am.

“I wanted to be the first in the line and I was. My dad

brought me into town on his way to work. Thanks dad.”

Amy revealed she had £30 to spend and while she waited for

the store to open she said she made a mental shopping list of

the things she wanted to buy.

“I had to buy this dress,” she said, rummaging for it in her

shopping basket. “I'm here with my two friends and we've all

got it. It is going to be interesting but at least we'll be

able to wear them together,” she laughed.

“I didn't know how much it was. I saw it hanging up while I

was waiting outside. I want a big belt to wear with it

too.”

Excited to see Derby's Primark reopening after almost three

years, Amy and her pals, Fran Walker, 16, and Tilly Darby, 16,

were desperate to shop. They could not hide their excitement.

When the doors opened, they squealed with delight and ran

inside.

“I've got £100 to spend,” said Tilly. “I'm going to Spain

soon and I need everything. I want swim wear, tops, skirts and

dresses. I plan to treat myself. Big time. I want shoes,

jewellery and a new bag.

“I know that I'll have enough money. That's why Primark is

so great.”

Laura McLoughlin, 60, of Derby, was equally pleased to see

the shop back in Derby.

“I started to queue early,” she said. “Primark isn't just

about young people, you know. I'm here for a bargain too.”

Twenty-one year-old William Lane, of Dean Street, Derby,

looked totally at ease – despite the fact that he was

surrounded by women. He was there to buy a few things and said

he had £30 to spend.

“I love Primark,” he said. “I'm not afraid to say it. I

might be a bloke but I love this shop. I'm here with my

girlfriend, Natalie. We're both going to have a good look

round. It's quite exciting actually. I want a couple of tops

and stuff.

“I've missed Primark. Now it's back. I'm glad.”

Jenny Tristram persuaded her husband, Richard, and their

three children, Maddie, Harry and Jake, to come with her to

Primark.

She passed her driving theory test and wanted to celebrate

by splashing out on a few things at the new Corn Market

store.

“Look,” she said. “I've spent £64 and I've got two bags

full. I've bought tops for the kids, a jacket for Maddie and a

couple of tops for Richard.

“I bought some trousers and a top for me too. And I got some

nightwear. I love Primark. It was such a treat to look

round.

“I went all the way to Nottingham once so I could go to

Primark and I hated it. This store is fantastic. It's

brilliant. Boy, have I missed it.”

The new store gave shoppers a treat when it opened a day

earlier than planned. Staff worked round the clock to get

everything ready ahead of schedule.

During his opening speech, sales director Ben Mansfield

thanked the team.

“We opened a day early as staff have worked so hard,” he

said. “They are an asset.”

After he talked about Derby's new 44,000sq ft store, which

is now one of the biggest in the UK, and shared some of

Primark's history, including the fact that Derby was the

location for Primark's first UK outlet, he went back to

thanking his staff.

“I want to thank everyone,” he said. “But I must mention Sue

Rook. She's been with us right from the start. She worked at

Primark when it was in Babington Lane. That was 32 years

ago.”

Like Sue, Elaine Dunnicliffe has seen Primark change over

the years. On September 26, 1974, she was one of the first

shoppers to walk through its doors when it opened for the first

time in Derby.

“I was delighted to be invited to this opening,” she said.

“It's marvellous. There was about six of us who all rushed into

the shop when it opened on Babington Lane.

“It's great to see this new shop. It's marvellous. I've had

a really good look round.”

A team of 300 staff have been employed to work in the new

impressive store.

The ground floor is taken up by womenswear, and there is

lots of choice. Dresses cost as little at £10, jackets are

around £17 and scarves are £3.

On the first floor, black mannequins show off Primark's huge

range of lingerie. The area is decorated with a striking black

and white flock wallpaper. Menswear is there too. You can pick

up a trouser suit for as little as £30, while ties cost from

£4.

Above that is the home furnishings department, which is

bursting with colourful cushions, throws and duvet covers.

Children's clothes are also on this floor and prices are cheap.

T-shirts are as little as £1 and there's some cute stuff for

both girls and boys.

Former employee Bernie Potter, from Derby, stopped working

for Primark 10 years ago but wanted to see the new store – and

her best friend, Sue Rook.

“Sue's still here,” she smiled. “I've brought her a bunch of

flowers. I'm going to find her and give them to her. I love the

shop. It's the best one I've ever visited. It's amazing. It's

nice to see it on the day it opens.”

Shopaholic Alex Seddon said she was Primark's biggest fan.

Her basket was bursting with clothes and she was queuing up to

try them on for size.

“I've come from Ashbourne,” she said excitedly. “I'll be

here for hours. I'm planning to make a day of it. I've got

loads of stuff to try on. I love it all.

“I've got £60 to spend. I've been to London to see its

Primark but this one is fantastic. I'm so happy.”

Alex's friend, Fiona Thornton, was equally excited to be

there. She had stacks to try on and was hoping that everything

fits.

“It's brilliant. I love everything.”

A cute pair of high heels, a pair of white pumps and two

T-shirts are being snapped up by student Sarah Huddlestone, of

Derby.

She's just invested £39 in her new wardrobe and she's

delighted with her buys.

“I also bought a necklace, four belts and a white blouse,”

she said. “It's great in here. I've had a good look round and

it's really impressive.”

Auxiliary nurse Serena Cope is another happy Primark

customer. The 21-year-old, from Ilkeston, bought a beautiful

purple dress for a party to which she's been invited on

Saturday night.

“It's quite a special event,” she said. “It's a 21st. Now

I've got something lovely to wear, I'm going to have a great

time. It only cost me £12.”

Familiar faces from the crowds of people who waited for

Primark to open its doors are now enjoying another queue – this

time they are inside at the tills.

Friends Amy, Fran and Tilly – Primark's first official

shoppers – are preparing to pay for their stuff. They've got

bags of it.

“We didn't all get the same dresses in the end,” shrieked

Fran. “We changed our minds at the last minute. I got a lovely

green one instead,” she beamed.

A Primark spokesman said: “We were pleased to have seen such

a positive reaction from the people of Derby to the opening of

the new Primark store.

“Everyone involved with the store is delighted with the

number of shoppers who have been attracted to the store. We are

confident that our customers will continue to enjoy the

shopping experience for a long while to come.”

Click here to read more about Primark