A new Primark store has opened in Canterbury today, employing more than 300 staff.

The store, at the Marlowe Arcade showcases three floors of fashion and stretches across more than 40,000sq ft of floor space.

Today's opening makes it the 163rd Primark store in the UK.

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Peter Scutt, centre manager at Whitefriars Canterbury added: “There has been a huge demand for Primark to open in Canterbury.

"We are delighted to be able to deliver this exciting new store to our customers.

"We are always looking to evolve our offering in line with our customers’ demands and we are confident that Primark will prove to be a hit.”

Hundreds of hungry shoppers queued for as long as two hours before the shop opened at 10am this morning (Thursday).

17-year-old Bethany Hunt from Faversham was the first in the queue and the first through the doors.

She arrived at 8am to make sure she got her place.

She said: “I can’t believe I was the first in the queue.

“It is my new claim to fame – my mum is going to be so proud!”

The mayor of Canterbury Ann Taylor said during her speech before the store opened: “Thank-you so much for inviting me here to open up this new store.

“I was very sensible and left my credit card at home, but I will definitely be back.

“Primark is a wonderful addition to so many of our great stores in Canterbury and I am sure it will be very, very popular.”

Debbie Help, 49, of Canterbury said: “I am so glad that we don’t have to travel as far as Maidstone, Chatham or Westwood Cross to get the best bargains.

“I have been queuing for about five, ten minutes and can’t wait to get in there.”

Friends Nikki Sanderson and Tom Coster, both 25, were shocked to see the queues.

Nikki said: “To be honest we’re not as excited as everybody else and we had no idea that there would be a queue this big.

“But we will be using the store regularly and it’s just great to have a Primark so nearby, rather than having to travel to West Wood Cross.”

Video: Hundreds queue as Primark opens in Canterbury

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