CHAMPAGNE and flowers greeted the first customers through the door when Waitrose opened in Christchurch after a rapid refit of the town's former Co-op store in Bargates.

Mayor Cllr Josephine Spencer performed the official opening ceremony on Thursday morning when she joined store manager Andy Gissing to welcome waiting shoppers.

First in the queue were Gary Stupple and his son Zac, 11, on half term from Twynham School.

They are keen supporters of anti-slavery campaign stopthetraffik and praised Waitrose's stand on ethical and Fair Trade products, especially chocolate.

The honour of formally unlocking the front doors of the new supermarket went to Anita Smith who had been at the Co-op store for more than 20 years before the store - and almost all of its 45-strong workforce - changed livery following the Waitrose takeover in August.

Since the closure of Co-op last month Waitrose has carried out a major revamp of the 25,000 square foot store and recruited more than 150 extra staff.

The Christchurch branch is the fifth Waitrose in Dorset since the supermarket chain, part of the John Lewis Partnership, opened in Winton almost 30 years ago.

"We have always had many requests to come to Christchurch, and now the right opportunity has come along we are delighted," said Mr Gissing, who was previously with Waitrose in Southampton.

"We are looking forward to welcoming our new customers and partners whose local knowledge and expertise will prove invaluable in seeing us become an active part of the local community."

"The investment we have made and the number of jobs we are creating not only demonstrates our commitment to the town, but how high our expectations are of success here."