MORE than 300 eager shoppers today braved the cold to be the first customers of the new Asda Wal-Mart super centre.

The giant hypermarket, the biggest Swindon has ever seen, was opened at 10am by the Mayor David Cox.

The first in the excited queue was Serena Waite, her mother Jean Patterson, and Serena's two daughters, two-year-old Lucy and Sophie, six.

Mrs Patterson, 62, a retired Allied Dunbar worker from Covingham said "We actually feel a bit silly being first in the queue but we are looking forward to going in and seeing everything.

"We usually shop at the Asda in West Swindon but we will be doing it here today."

Honda worker Chris Kearns, 34, from Abbey Meads, who lives just across the road, arrived at 8.20am.

He said: "I came to support the new supermarket which is a godsend around here because we don't have an awful lot in this area. I watched it being built and now I want to see inside.

"We certainly need a bit of competition around here in shopping."

Coun Cox was joined in cutting the ribbon to open the store by two children, nine-year-old Heidi Hynes and Catriona Murray, 10. Heidi won a competition to design a Christmas card for sale in the store and Catriona is a pupil of Brimble Hill school for children with special educational needs.

Staff worked until the last minute to make sure every last item of stock was ready for the customers.

Shortly before the opening ceremony, they could be heard inside the store, cheering and singing motivational songs.

The store's events co-coordinator, Helen Winfield, said: "The mood here is excitement.

"Everybody is very well-motivated there is a really good bunch of people working here. They have worked so hard getting everything ready."

Jody Chrich, 22, is among the 600 staff at the store. Jody, of Burford, helps to organise the beers, wines and spirits department.

He said: "I've been in retail for six years, including working for smaller wine merchants and Sainsbury's.

"I just saw this store being built and decided to apply.

"I was attracted by the challenge, and there is also a good working environment here.

"You do feel part of a team, and that comes right down from management to us."

Jody's comments were echoed by Shaun Harrowing, 35, from Bristol, whose role as retail replenishment manager involved ensuring that stocks of food products are maintained at all times.

He said: "I've been with Asda for 12 years, and when the opportunity to work here came up I just grabbed it.

"It was an opportunity to work for the company's biggest Asda Wal-Mart branch.

"In have six departmental managers working with me, but the buck stops with me!"

Liz Hargreaves, 39, works in the department which sells the company's own brand of clothing, called George.

She said: "Being here appeals to me because everybody seems to be happy.

"I've been here for six weeks now, helping to get everything up and going.

"I also like the customer care side of things, working with people."