TESCO Metro flung open its doors to an expectant Bournemouth public, attracting thousands of customers on its first day.

The store, on the prime town centre spot formerly occupied by Borders, was officially opened with the help of town crier David Squire, whose booming voice drew attention to the opening ceremony.

One of only two Metro stores in Dorset – the other is in Weymouth – it provides a wider range of stock than the many Tesco Express stores already open across the area.

And judging by the crowds on the first day, it is going to be a huge hit with the public.

The store made an impression in the town before it even opened with nearly 800 people applying for the 66 part-time and 19 full-time posts created.

Local charity the Dorset Community Foundation also benefited from the opening when chief executive Tina Baker was presented with a cheque for £1,000 as a donation from Tesco.

Mrs Baker, who performed the opening ceremony by cutting a ribbon, said the money is welcome in an organisation which provides grants to local communities and also runs the Bournemouth Bicentenary Fund.

The Metro is managed by Steve Thomson, former boss of the supermarket’s Lymington store.

He told the Daily Echo: “We’ve taken a lot of people who were out of work back into work – it’s a very exciting challenge.”

And the town crier echoed the sentiments of all involved in the project when he said: “It gives me enormous pleasure to wish all those involved in this store good fortune and good trading in the years to come.”