SOME 450 people were ready for the doors to open at a new Asda store in Caldicot on Monday morning.

Some early birds were there two hours before the official opening with Martin Paton, Joy Paton, Susan Marie and Michelle Worgan the first in the line.

Shoppers were greeted with songs in English and Welsh from the Caldicot Male Voice Choir.

The first person through the checkout was Mrs Pat Richards, who said: "It's a very nice store, it's bigger than I expected it to be."

Business was strong throughout the day with queues at the tills reminiscent of the Christmas rush.

It has taken about a year to get from planning application to the store opening — in sharp contrast to Cinderford where there have been legal battles to stop Asda establishing a shop at Steam Mills, despite widespread public support for the development.

Unlike the Co-op in Cinderford which has gone to court to argue about the planning process, in Caldicot the established Waitrose store based its objection largely on ensuring there were plenty of opportunities for 'linked trips' from Asda to the town centre.

Mayor of Caldicot, Cllr Alan Davies, said: "I welcome the opening of the new store and hope it will be a catalyst for the regeneration of the town centre."