First look inside the new Primark store in Shrewsbury town centre - with pictures and video

Months of construction work have been followed by frantic preparations to get the £12 million store in the Charles Darwin Shopping Centre ready for customers.

Almost 200 people have been working around the clock this week stocking shelves with the latest in fashionwear.

And as the doors opened this morning there were queues of about 200 people who wanted to be the first customers to get inside.

Reporter Jordan Reynolds was at the store for the opening this morning:

From jumpers to denim, coats and dresses to sleepwear and lingerie there is something to fit all shapes and sizes.

With departments dedicated to menswear, womenswear, children’s wear, babywear, homeware, accessories, footwear and lingerie shoppers will be in consumer heaven.

Vicky Moore, from Sundorne, was the first in the queue in the centre.

The 29-year-old said she was looking for clothes for her two children.

She said: "I've been waiting here since 8am when the shopping centre opened. I've been waiting for a Primark in Shrewsbury for years, I've been going to Telford previously for it.

"My girls are aged five and one so I come to Primark for kid's clothes. They're cheaper but still good quality and really nice, especially considering how fast kids grow.

"I normally buy quite a lot at once when I come to Primark, we'll be heading here every Saturday now it's here."

Just behind in the queue were friends Sophie Coombes, Shannon Bailey and Laura Askew, all aged 17.

The girls, all students at Shrewsbury College, had woken up at 6.30am to be waiting at the store for 8am.

The teenagers were looking for pyjamas, jumpers and home items.

Sophie said: "We've been planning this for about a week, we normally go to Telford to go to Primark."

Shannon added: "There's so much choice and the price is really good, it's very cheap."

Laura said: "We'll be coming here quite often."

Mayor Jane Mackenzie said she thinks the new store will "put Shrewsbury on the map".

She said: "I'm delighted that Primark has come to the town, I think this is going to be a win win for everybody. For the residents of Shrewsbury and for businesses it's great.

"It's going to put Shrewsbury on the map and we're going to have affordable fashion which is something we need.

"We know it's going to increase footfall in the centre, everybody is going to benefit.

"I'm a mum to three daughters, on a personal level I welcome it.

"I'm delighted to have been asked to open it, I'm hoping it will have a close connection with the town and I'm going to be working closely with the managers who will be working with my chosen charity, Shropshire Recovery Partnership."

Store manager Neil Harrow said: “We have been very busy over the last week getting everything ready for the opening.

“It is all very exciting and we have been very eager to welcome people in. The store looks fantastic. The guys have been working really hard to get it ready for the customers. We only had our first stock in last Wednesday - that night we took in more than 7,500 cartons of clothing, but it has all gone really smoothly.

“I am confident that bringing Primark to Shrewsbury will increase footfall in the shopping centre. A bit of competition is healthy for everybody. It is definitely a good thing for Shrewsbury and people have been talking about it for quite a while.”

Emier O’Dowd, store opening programme manager added: “The store, which is around 30,600sq ft, is going to be very popular. People have been coming up to me and asking it is opening soon so it shows they are excited about it.

“Primark has something for all pockets, our cheapest item is an 80p candle to our most expensive item is a £42 suitcase. There is something in between for everyone. We have wide aisles for those with pushchairs and buggies as well as lifts for those needing to get between the floors. We have thought of everything.”

Kevin Lockwood, centre manager at Shrewsbury’s shopping centres said: “The opening of Primark will be phenomenal for the town. A national retailer coming to Shrewsbury shows that the town is doing very well. It shows that we have a really good mix of national and independent retailers.

“These works have been ongoing for more than 12 months and before that the units were empty. Now Primark is going to encourage people through the centre and increase footfall. The store looks amazing and is a huge bonus for Shrewsbury.”