The number of visitors to the town was up 40 per cent on last week when the new Primark store flung open its doors on Wednesday.

A survey carried out by town centre managers Land Securities revealed people travelled from as far as Peterborough, Leicester, Wellingborough and Stamford to use the store.

And on Primark's first Saturday, queues of traffic getting into the town added up to 20 minutes to some people's journeys.

Land Securities centre manager Daniel Pickard said: "It's been absolutely fantastic. Primark is an extremely popular brand for men's, women's and children's clothing.

"It's a welcome change from the doom and gloom in the news. The town's just going from strength to strength."

Mr Pickard said other retailers in Willow Place had seen an increase in shoppers through their doors.

Corby Council deputy leader Mark Pengelly, a manager at Busy Bee minibus hiring firm, said: "I've never seen anything like it. It took me 20 minutes to get to work through the traffic on Saturday. We are finding people from further afield are coming to Corby to see what it's got to offer. It's great for the town."

Hundreds of excited shoppers lined up outside the store last Wednesday to grab the first bargains. The downstairs features women's clothing and accessories while the first floor has men's and children's clothing and homeware.

Jim Speckman, 48, of Oxford Road, Corby, went shopping at Primark on Saturday with his wife Ann.

He said: "Parking was more difficult than it's ever been before.

"Usually you always get a space in the multi-storey car park. There were queues going into it and some people gave up and had to go back.

"But it's great for the town, especially at this time with the credit crunch."

Sylvia Reid, 43, of Morley Walk, Corby, said it was good for the town and Michelle Lowe, 42, from Kettering, said: "For me it's great.

"Northampton is a nightmare just with the hassle of getting there and parking. It's just absolutely ideal. I think Primark will bring more people into Corby."