DIEHARD gamers queued round the block at midnight in Bolton to be the first to get their hands on the latest PlayStation console.

Around 100 eager fans waited outside GAME, in Victoria Square, waiting for the first consoles to go on sale at 12.01am yesterday.

All had pre-ordered the PlayStation 3 but were eager to get their hands on it, especially since the console had been due to go on sale last November across Europe, a launch that was put back until yesterday because of a shortage of machines.

Gamestation, in Newport Street, Bolton, also opened at midnight for eager customers, while other stores opened from 7am to allow people to buy the £425 console before they went to work.