HUNDREDS of eager bargain hunters from across North Devon queued from as early as 8am this morning in the hope of scooping a penny
purchase at Marks & Spencer’s on Barnstaple High Street. To publicise its 125th anniversary the shop is offering 20 commemorative items for just a penny donation to the Devon Air Ambulance Trust. The shop will stock enough promotional items — including sweets, drinks, clothing and accessories — for 290 people every day until Friday. Bev Dearing, store manager, opened the doors. Sylvia Chugg from Barnstaple had queued since 8.40am and eventually got into the store around 9.15am. She said: “I’ve bagged myself a silk scarf, leather passport holder and a set of men’s cufflinks. The queue was quite short when I arrived but it’s massive now. “I expect it will get more popular by the end of the week once word has spread.”
Gabriella Gabriel, a former Hungarian national who moved to Braunton five years ago, said: “We have M&S in our country and I came down today to witness this historic event.