Primark's new store in Carlisle has been so busy in its opening days that bosses have had to operate a “one in, one out” policy.

A “crowd control mechanism” had to be brought in until numbers dropped as crowds of shoppers brought a massive boost to the city centre.

Bosses at The Lanes, where Primark is based, said the centre’s overall footfall reached almost 35,000 on the budget clothing shop’s opening day – up more than 50 per cent on last year.

In its first four days, the store, in the former BHS unit, reached capacity more than once, resulting in the crowd control mechanism being brought in.

Details of the knock-on effect of the much-anticipated shop opening emerged as it was revealed another big name brand is coming to The Lanes.

Disney is due to open a pop-up store by the end of the month.

It is estimated that 500 customers, some queuing for hours to be among the first to set foot in the store, flooded through the doors at 10am on Thursday.

The influx of people throughout the first day of

trading meant the tills were so busy it closed 40 minutes late that day.

There were still queues at times on Saturday and the store could only be entered by English Street.

On Primark’s opening day footfall for The Lanes was up 54 per cent, reaching 34,979, compared to 22,700 on the same day in 2015.

David Jackson, commercial director of The Lanes, said: “They reached what they call capacity a number of times on Thursday, and I think it happened again on Friday and Saturday, whereby there’s a maximum number of people they can have shopping in the store at any one time.

“They then have to move to a one in, one out situation until more people come out. It has been extremely popular.

“I think it’s been a very, very successful opening for them in terms of the sheer number of customers that have been through the store.”

Mr Jackson also spoke to other retailers who he said had felt the Primark effect.

“One of the card retailers was saying they’d had their busiest Saturday for months and one of the coffee shops had been absolutely inundated,” he added. “So I think you’ve got to say that this weekend has been very successful.

“We knew it was going to be busy and bring a lot of people in but I think it’s been busier that we thought it was going to be,” he added.

Primark is the biggest store to open in the Lanes since Debenhams.

“In terms of numbers or attraction I’m sure it surpassed that,” added Mr Jackson.

“The Primark store opening is unique in Carlisle in terms of what we’ve experienced.”

Meanwhile, The Lanes has managed to lure back Disney, which has in the past traded in the centre.

Kathryn Bird, operations manager, said the pop-up store is due to open in the former Miss Selfridge Unit – occupied by Jack Wills last year – by the end of October.

“It’s always nice that retailers, particularly retailers that have been before, want to return and come to serve Carlisle and give people what they want,” she said.

Disney has previously had a temporary store in the centre’s Peascod Lane.

Mr Jackson said Disney hadn’t confirmed Primark was the reason for its move back.

But the store undoubtedly had a pulling power.

“Retailers are aware of that wherever they’re trading, or wherever there’s been a new Primark opening. They are aware of the pulling power of Primark.

“A lot more retailers are talking to us and wanting to be involved,” said Mr Jackson.