Hundreds of shoppers came from all over the north of the county to be some of the first to grab the bargains.


Have you been to the new Primark? Let us know what you think about it by signing in and posting your comments at the bottom of the page.


And on the dot of nine o'clock the doors opened the moment had arrived.
First in the line was Shareen Kemp, 21, from Oakley Vale, who arrived at about 8am. She said: "It's brilliant for Corby.

"Primark is good value. I'm planning to buy anything and everything.

"You don't really need to save up for Primark.

"You can go in there with a tenner and get a month's worth of clothes."

Second in the queue, Jackie Doherty, from Corby's Exeter estate, took a
day off work to be at the launch.

She said: "It's great for cheap clothes."

As the crowds waited, staff gathered inside the store to watch a ribbon being cut by store managers before the doors finally opened.

Director of Primark Stores Ltd Breege O'Donoghue spoke about the history of Corby and its famous sons, including gymnastics star Daniel Keatings and Gladiators referee John Anderson.

She said: "We have five million sq ft of retail space, but this has to be the best store. It's the newest design.

"It's exquisite."

The first customer to pass through the checkout was Martin Benson, 44, of Waverley Avenue, Corby. He bought two pairs of pink slipper socks for his 13-year-old daughter.

Mr Benson said: "It's an early Christmas present for her.

"I came at 8am to join the queue but I went back home for a cup of tea because it was so cold. Then I came back a bit later."

Less than 10 minutes after the opening, sisters Sue and Sara Rodwell already had a basketful of clothes each.

Sue, 24, of Neale Avenue, Kettering, said: "We're buying Christmas presents. We'll be getting a bit of everything. We'll spend over £100 each today."

Corby town centre director Daniel Pickard said: "This is a fantastic event for Corby. Having Primark within Willow Place is going to attract more shoppers, who will no doubt be visiting the other stores."