PRIMARK fans set their alarms early this morning to get to the branch in Poole as Covid lockdown measures ease across the country.

A queue of eager shoppers could be seen waiting to get into the store at the Dolphin Shopping Centre at 7.40am.

Jack Dollard captured the photos and said he was “shocked” to see the early morning rush.

He said: “I was shocked, having started work at 7am this morning and queues having already formed. It was crazy last time lockdown lifted but not that crazy this fast.”

The store continued to be a draw for shoppers as they day went on.

At lunchtime, there were still lengthy queues outside the store with shoppers keen to buy from the retailer following more than three months of closures. 

The Poole branch is one of 161 Primark stores opening across England today.

In a message to shoppers today, Primark CEO, Paul Marchant, said: “Safety is our top priority for re-opening, and we ask our customers to continue supporting us and be mindful of our in-store measures, in particular if queuing outside and in-store.”

Non-essential retailers are able to open their doors today for the first time since the lockdown was introduced on January 5.

Many shops in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area had to close their doors before the new year when the area was moved into Tier 4 measures.

To keep up to date with what’s happening across the county today as lockdown measures ease, follow our live blog