Huge crowds queued, some from 6am, for the opening of major clothes retailer TK Maxx at Spitfire Retail Park in Trowbridge today.

The store, which offers designer labels and famous brands at affordable prices, attracted hundreds of eager shoppers for the opening, with the first 500 customers given a £10 gift card to spend.

The 500 gift cards went within 15 minutes of the store opening at 9am, after the first customer in the queue, Wayne Metcalfe, cut the ribbon to officially open it.

The 29-year-old, from Trowbridge, had queued outside from 6am with his mother Fely Metcalfe to make sure they were the first customers and said he had never seen crowds like it before in Trowbridge.

Mr Metcalfe said: “It’s incredible to see how many people have turned out. I was elated when I found out there was going to be a new store and I’m absolutely delighted to be the first customer.

“Trowbridge has always needed a shop like this and it has been a long time overdue. I was so excited I barely slept last night and I was up straight away as soon as the alarm went off.”

Miss Metcalfe added: “I’m a designer lady and that it why I wanted to get to the store early. I came up at 4.15am at first to see if anyone else was here early, but then we came back at 6am to start queuing.

“It is a great boost for Trowbridge and I’m 100 per cent sure that it was what it needed. We have been very excited for the opening as usually we have to go to Bath to shop, but now we have this on our doorstep.”

Julie Clitherow, from Warminster, said: “It is a huge boost for Trowbridge to have a store like this and it also benefits people in Warminster and Westbury. We usually go to Salisbury to shop, but this is much closer.”

The store has brought 50 new jobs, with many of those being employed coming from Trowbridge and the surrounding areas.

Store manager Sian Brady, from Trowbridge, said: “We are really delighted to have opened the doors to excited customers this morning. We are bursting with big labels at amazing prices and pleased to share these bargains with Trowbridge's shoppers.”