VINYL lovers got up at the crack of dawn to get their hands on their favourite records on record store day — with one fan even flying in from Ireland for the day.

Staff at X-Records in Bridge Street were run off their feet as music fans rushed to make sure they grabbed the latest exclusive releases.

There were about 50 people queueing outside the shop by the time it opened, at the earlier time of 8am on Saturday morning to cope with demand, with a hardcore of about 10 fans queueing from 5am.

The annual record store day, which is intended to promote independent record shops, is now in its eighth year.

X-Records owner Steve Meekings said: "We even had one girl who came from Ireland — she wanted the EPs by The 1975, which she managed to get.

"And that's not the furthest people come from — we have one guy from Mumbai who comes about three times a year, and spends about eight hours looking around the shop."

Chet Patel, from Great Lever, arrived to queue outside X-Records at 5.30am, and was happy to get what he was after, The White Stripes album Get Behind Me Satan, which is the first vinyl release of the 2005 record, as well as the Foo Fighters' Songs from the Laundry Room EP, a collection of the band's early demos.

Chet, aged 30, has been collecting vinyls for about 15 years and owns about 300 records.

He said: "Record store day is a great thing — it is not just about the one-off day, it is about the time after as well.

"Someone who has never heard of vinyl before might pick one up and become hooked.

"I hate digital music. What is great about vinyl is the whole package — you can admire the artwork and you have to play the record at the right speed. It is more of an experience."

Other music fans who came from closer to home were mother and daughter Jo and Izzy Gregory, from Eagley.

Izzy, who has just turned 16, inherited her love of vinyl — and music in general — from her mother, Jo.

She has just got a record player, and the pair took home Blondie's 1978 album Parallel Lines on vinyl.

Mrs Gregory said: "Izzy was hoping to get The Maccabees' release but instead she got a Blondie album. I have been playing her some Blondie and we all love it."

Picking up some of the more niche records released especially for the day were brothers Ian and James Edmondson, from Leigh, who bought a record by Los Angeles punk band OFF!, as well as a special release by The Flaming Lips.

Mr Edmondson said: "It is great being able to get one-off stuff. We have been coming here for years, you can get hold of things that which you can't in more mainstream shops."