IT OPENED back up for the first time in months at 9am, and the fans were ready - with many queuing from as early as 6am.

But more than four hours after people began filtering through the doors of Basingstoke's Primark, the queue shows no sign of receding. 

With no online presence, and known for its bargain products, Primark is one of the most popular first ports of call for keen shoppers today, April 12.

Two of the first in the queue were friends Erin, 21, and Elana, 18.

Elana, who works as a retail assistant, said: “It's exciting we are going back to something we used to not think twice about. I think the little things, like how the road map was set out, gave me more faith and were more promising this time around.”

Office worker Erin said she found the last three months ‘hard’ being stuck at home.

The pair are planning to go to many shops today to try to feel ‘more normal’.