ALMOST 500 people queued up for the opening of Port Glasgow’s new Marks and Spencer.

Customers were welcomed into the retail park store on Thursday morning, with some keen shoppers waiting for hours in the rain for their first glimpse inside.

Port man Allan Foreman, 51, was the first through the doors at 10am.

He said: “I’ve been down here since seven this morning — that’s how excited I am.

“I hardly slept a wink.

“It looks amazing.

“The whole Port town is looking good.”

The shop was built to replace the Greenock store, which closed on Wednesday evening after 81 years.

The new shop has created 40 jobs on top of the 70 staff who have relocated from the Oak Mall outlet.

Helen Coyle, who is from the Port, was given the honour of opening the shop after being nominated as a ‘community hero’ for all her charity work across Inverclyde.

She also won a £200 gift card and lunch in the cafe.

Modest Helen said: “When I found out that I had been chosen to cut the ribbon I was shocked and overwhelmed.

“I can’t believe that I was nominated and won.

“It is really special to know that the community put me forward and I am proud to be one of the first people in the community to walk the aisles of the brand new store.

“It’s a cracker.”

Helen cut the ribbon alongside manager Jill Clark, surrounded by new and existing staff — including long-serving employee Margaret Boag — and M&S favourites Percy Pig and Colin the Caterpillar.

Jill said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be opening our doors at Port Glasgow and welcoming customers to this exciting new shopping destination for the region.

“M&S has a long history in the Inverclyde area and so we’re delighted to bring an improved offering to our customers and create 40 new jobs for local people.

“The team has been working hard in recent weeks to get the store ready and are eager to hear customers’ feedback, particularly on the in-store bakery and 80-seat café which are both new for our local customers.

“We’re all very much looking forward to seeing the many familiar faces who have been coming to M&S Greenock for years, as well as new customers from the surrounding area in the coming weeks.”

The opening ceremony also included entertainment from Clyde 1’s Gina McKie and Inverclyde’s own Clydeside Singers, after the group were named as the new store’s chosen charity for the coming year.

Mary Greig, who leads the group, said: “We’re delighted.
“To get endorsed like this is a real morale boost.”