MORE than 10,000 shoppers crammed into Marks & Spencer in the first four hours of it opening at Eden.

The centre's other big attraction, House of Fraser, opened at 9.30am, but people had to be fenced off by security guards for the 10am opening of Marks. And the lucky few who made it to M&S first got a free glass of champagne.

Miriam Hill, who came from Chesham for the opening, said: "It's lovely I hope it does well it is better than I expected. It seems very open.

"No doubt it will be something that I will come back to again and again. This is perfect for us to come in by bus, it easier than Watford, Hemel Hempstead or London.

"I remember them saying on TV that this was going to be like the new London. I didn't believe them. Seeing it today they were right."

Ali Akram, an 18-year-old student at Sir William Ramsay School in Hazlemere, said: "I can't believe how many people are here, it looks amazing. It is going to attract so many people to our town.

"They are going to go to High Wycombe to shop now instead of going elsewhere. It is a lot more open than I expected."

Store manager Nick Pucci said: "I am delighted the way it has gone. It's astounding to watch the number of people who have taken the time to come here this morning.

"From our point of view it's every-thing we would have wanted."

Six hundred House of Eden staff greeted customers.

The firm's chief executive John King said: "It's like the West End coming to Wyc-ombe." Among the shoppers were Hil-degard Message, 80. She said: "I have come all the way from Tring this morning. You could say I am a bit of a shopaholic.

"My nearest place to shop is Aylesbury and it is really a bit lacking. Seeing this I think I will move to High Wycombe!"

Her daughter, Karla Lloyd, 43, from Downley, said: "I couldn't wait to see it and it looks brilliant. It is so not High Wycombe. I was quite surprised when the hoarding came down. It is like being in London - I can't wait to explore."