EAGER shoppers queued up early yesterday to get a glimpse inside the new Botley Road Waitrose.

The doors opened at 8am but some customers arrived at 7.30am keen to have a good look around the much-anticipated store.

Security guard turned Botley Road legend Ambrose Emmanuel officially opened the supermarket with the help of Deputy Lord Mayor Colin Cook.

Mr Emmanuel turned up just in time and was cheered through the queues before cutting the ribbon and letting the customers file in.

Father-of-three Andre Moriarty, who lives next door, was the first inside and was given a bottle of Champagne.

He said: “When a store like Waitrose comes to an area like Botley Road it’s interesting to see what it will bring to the community.

“All the construction has not been pleasant and I know people are apprehensive about traffic and the way cyclists use the road.

“Hopefully it will be beneficial to the area. Being so close I will definitely pop in occasionally, but maybe won’t do my weekly shop here.”

The store will be supporting three local organisations in its first month – West Oxford Primary School, West Oxford Community Centre and the Oxford Conservation Volunteers.

Customers can choose how much of a £1,000 pot each will receive by dropping tokens into a container.

Huw Woodman, 52, from West Oxford, said: “It’s fantastic there’s a Waitrose here now when you consider it was a derelict building before.

“I think it will be great for the area and the community. It’s great what they are doing for local charities.

“We will definitely be shopping here – we have already started.”

Branch manager Greg Porter said: “It was a proud morning for me personally and for the whole team. A lot of work has gone into getting the store ready and it’s great to see the queues on the first morning.

“The hard work starts now though.”