Apple fans queue all night for chance to buy iPad

Massive queues formed outside Apple's flagship store in London as hundreds battled to get their hands on the latest must-have gadget – the iPad.

The queues of technophiles snaked down Regent Street in central London from Thursday afternoon for the touch-screen tablet-style computer.

The iPad finally went on sale in the UK yesterday after a delay owing to the gadget's popularity in the United States.

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The computer allows users to send e-mails, read novels, draw pictures and play games.

It is on sale from 429 for the basic version to 699 for a model with wi-fi and 3G network access.

Apple stores across the UK opened an hour earlier at 8am to sell the iPad.

Currys and PC World will also stock the device at 139 stores.

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Deafening screams and cheers could be heard coming from the store as the first few customers left clutching their prized new possessions – some smiling broadly, others appearing somewhat bewildered by the applause.

A team of security staff monitored queues outside as people waited behind a cordon to be allowed into the packed store.

Some weary looking fans, who had been camping out on Regent Street since the early hours, appeared grateful as they were served refreshments and gradually inched closer to the store.

Edward Cook, 25, from Greenwich, south-east London, was "thrilled" to have finally got his hands on one of the gadgets, following a 10-hour wait.

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"I'm very excited but also quite tired. I've been here since 2am.

"For me it is a novelty toy. The novelty may wear off but for now it is quite exciting."

Apple sold more than one million iPads in the US in the first 100 days after the April launch.