SHOPPERS flocked to Middlebrook Retail Park as the brand new £12million Next superstore officially opened.

Managers at the shop, described as one of the largest Next stores in the North West, cut the ribbon at the premises on Tuesday to a throng of excited customers.

The store measures 39,000 square feet and also includes a Costa Coffee and a Paperchase.

Heather Crank-Ingham, retail marketing and PR manager at Middlebrook, said: "We have worked hard alongside the Next team to get the store ready in time for the launch day which has resulted in a fantastic job.

"The store launch was a great success with over 100 people waiting patiently for the doors to open at 10am.

"As an added bonus the first 20 shoppers received a golden envelope containing a voucher with an amount from £5 to £100 to spend in store.

"The store looks amazing, it is light, spacious and airy, stocks a full range of men’s, ladies, children’s and home products and has paperchase, Lipsey and Costa Coffee as concessions in store.

"The feedback from shoppers has been wonderful, we look forward to welcoming many more shoppers over the coming weeks, it is definitely worth a visit! I am sure it will be very successful."

The premises will be open Monday to Friday from 9am to 8.30pm as well as 9am to 8pm on Saturdays and 10.30am to 5pm on Sundays.

But this Saturday, it will open at 5am in time for the Next sale.

The ribbon was cut by store manager Anthony Bowes cut the ribbon with Bolton Wanderers' mascot Lofty the Lion.

It opened at 10am and the first 20 people in the queue were given a golden envelope.

These contained a gift card worth between £5 and £100 for people to spend in the store.

Mr Bowes said: "The team at Bolton Middlebrook are all really excited for the new store, it looks simply stunning.

"We look forward to welcoming all customers to this new and exciting shopping environment."

It is the second opening to take place at the Horwich business park since the start of this year.

Staff and customers recently celebrated the launch of Homesense Bolton, which opened its doors at Middlebrook on May 24.

The business, which is part of the TK Maxx family, opened up the new shop in the existing TK Maxx unit at the Horwich business hub.