1,000 shoppers queue for Primark

More than 1,000 shoppers queued for the opening of a new Primark store in Belfast three months after a major fire destroyed its predecessor.

Belfast city centre was left devastated following the blaze at the historic Bank Buildings. Nearby shops were forced to close while other businesses struggled due to lower footfall, which fell by up to 60% after the blaze. However, from early Saturday morning, shoppers thronged the street ahead of the opening of the new Primark store. At the top of the queue was Jeanette Robb, from Craigavon, Co Armagh, who arrived at 6.30am.

She said: “I haven’t actually been to Belfast for shopping since the fire at Primark, it is not Belfast without Primark.”