VINYL fanatics queued in the pouring rain before purchasing their favourite records this morning.

About 50 people queued outside the Truck Store in Cowley Road from about 3am.

Hundreds of vinyl collectors are expected to join queues outside the indpendent store throughout the day, in the hope of snapping up rare limited editions from the likes of Bob Dylan, Iron Maiden and Oxford's own Foals, released specially for today's Record Store Day.

Some began their wait before dawn.

More than 500 limited editions are being released for the day, many on vinyl.

They include records by Metallica, a-ha, Muse, Deftones, 808 State, The Orb and a posthumous release of David Bowie music.

Mark Taylor, from Summertown, was first in the queue.

He told the Oxford Mail his time of arrival at the store was "highly classified".

He added: "I have done it seven years now.

"The night wasn't too bad but it was a lot colder this year.

"Numbers wise it's getting better now, because of the cold it was a bit slower. The list isn't as strong I don't think as previous years.

"It's a great occasion."