THOUSANDS of shoppers have been pouring through the doors of the new Tesco store in Orpington, as it opened for the first time today (May 18).

The shop, which is around 10,000 sq m with a retail space of more than 6,000 sq m across two floors, is the biggest supermarket in the area.

News Shopper: Tesco opened in Orpington today

Its size enables it to sell a wider range of goods including televisions, pots and pans and clothing as well as groceries.

This range led to fears from residents who protested against the development that it would lead to the death of Orpington High Street.

But the High Street was bustling today and customers at the Tesco store think it is a good thing for the town.

Chris Thompson, of High Beeches, Chelsfield, said: “It’s what Orpington needs with everything under one roof.”

The 57-year-old added: “It is a very good store and I think it’s the kick up the backside Orpington needs to kick some life into it and bring in some independent shops.”

Mother-of-one Danielle Bellenie, 30, was equally impressed.

The part-time cleaner said: “I think it’s amazing.

“It’s easy to get to and there is a lot more than the Tesco in Sidcup.”

News Shopper: Danielle Bellenie, 30, with her one-year-old son Billy in the toys section

Ms Bellenie, of Chipperfield Road, St Paul’s Cray, added: “I think it will bring more people into Orpington and it will make people go down the High Street, as long as they bring more shops here.

Jeslin Fernando, 34, lives in the High Street and had been looking forward to the shop opening for months.

The mother-of-one said: “It’s great.

“We used to do shopping in Bromley but there are so many different Indian foods here and everything I want is inside.

“We have been waiting so long to get this store open.”

Danielle Hughes, of Sheldon Gardens, St Mary Cray, thinks it will make other stores improve what they have to offer shoppers.

The 23-year-old mother-of-one said: “I think it will improve Orpington a lot but I feel sorry for the other shops.

“They have to react because they now have a lot of competition.”

The shop’s opening comes more than five years after the supermarket giant originally applied for planning permission to Bromley Council in November 2003.

Nearby residents groups fought against the plans but the council granted permission in September 2005 to build a store on the site of a former multistorey car park in Earls Way.

Bromley Council then approved another application in July 2007 which added a mezzanine floor to the building.

One of the concerns protestors had during the planning process was about how the increased traffic would affect the area.

Bromley police has not received any reports of major problems caused by the opening of the store but Polly Draper, 60, of Stowting Road, Orpington, says it took her a long time to get in.

The retired staff nurse, who used to work at the Princess Royal University Hospital, said: “We came down at 10 o’clock but we were queued up Station Road.

“I do query whether this was the right site for it.”

The grandmother added: “I think it is going to make traffic a nightmare and there will be traffic jams.”

News Shopper: Shoppers flocked to the massive store

Store manager Andy Cruttenden has managed 11 other stores in Kent and Essex and says the opening this morning has “exceeded expectations”.

Mr Cruttenden said: “You’re never sure what’s going to happen when you open the doors but the response so far has been overwhelming.

“It’s exceeded our expectations and we are looking forward to serving Orpington over the coming years.”

The store employs around 450 people from the Orpington area.