It’s been more than two and a half years in the making but the latest addition to Maidstone’s ever-expanding shopping scene has opened its doors.

A three-floor £10 million plus branch of retail giant Next opened to the public at 10am this morning in Eclipse Park, just off Junction 7 of the M20.

The earlier congestion wasn't enough to discourage scores of eager shoppers who arrived at the Bearsted Road store in time for the opening.

More than 50 people queued outside the superstore to witness the ribbon cutting with the 170-space car park full within half an hour of the opening.

The 40,000 sq ft superstore, which will create 100 new jobs, was first proposed to owners of the business and retail park, Gallagher Properties, in May 2012 after the construction company rejected a suggested CostCo warehouse three months earlier.

Work started on the site next to the Hilton Maidstone hotel last December.

A Gallagher Group spokesman said: “The store is not a ‘crinkly tin box’. It has been built to a high specification utilising brickwork, curtain walling, limestone cladding and Kentish Ragstone.”

The store will provide homeware, DIY products and fashion and will be complemented by a branch of Costa Coffee.

Store manager, Nicky Smith said: “We’re thrilled to open this store in Maidstone. After months of planning and hard work our customers have a brand new concept store that has all new product areas.”

Chief Executive of the Gallagher Group, Nick Yandle, said: “After just two and a half years since first contact the vision Next have for their business and Gallagher have for Eclipse Park is before us. Gallagher is proud to have played its part in delivering such a great development that provides new employment opportunities for dozens of Maidstone people and we expect it to attract further investment into Eclipse Park.”

The new store, which will be open Monday to Saturday 9am to 10pm and 10.30am to 5pm on Sunday and replaces the Fremlin Walk shop which closed on Saturday , will allow customers to collect online purchases in store as long as they are ordered by 10pm the previous day.