Hundreds of shoppers braved freezing conditions to welcome the arrival of the first Primark store in Edinburgh.
Queues began forming at 6am as people from across Scotland jostled to be among the first inside the eagerly awaited store.
The Right Honourable, George Grubb, Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, carried out the opening ceremony and greeted the first arrivals as they made their way into the Princes Street store.
It took ten minutes for the huge queue to funnel inside – with many shoppers immediately heading for tills to snap up items.
The first person in line was Laura Hamilton, 25, from Newtongrange, Midlothian, who said it was snowing heavy when she turned up at 6am.
She said: “We’ve been waiting for Primark for so long and the store will bring so much to Edinburgh.
“I can’t wait to snap up a few bargains.”
Paul Marchant, Chief Executive of Primark, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be opening in Edinburgh today. It’s been much anticipated opening for ourselves – and for our customers.
“We are also delighted to see the customers turn out in full force. It amazing to see a crowd of the size it was this morning in what was cold, snowy conditions.
“We have 19 stores in Scotland now. We believe the offer we have, which is about amazing fashion and amazing prices, is something that is really important to customers, particularly in these difficult times.
