SUPERMARKETS put a high premium on customer loyalty but some customers at one Chandler's Ford store showed what loyalty really means this week.

The Asda store in Bournemouth Road first opened its doors to the public as French owned Carrefour in July 1974.

Three decades on, with Asda's badges all over it, staff invited back old-timers for a hearty celebratory breakfast - on the house.

Husband and wife Fred and Suzanna Thomas, of Otterbourne, have shopped at the store since day one. They still do their weekly shop there. Fred, 74, said: "We were here for the first day and have been coming here ever since. I wouldn't go anywhere else.

"It's nice that we have been invited back for the free breakfast and it gives us the chance to reminisce with other people."

Hazel Combes, 57, who used to live in Chilworth, still pops in for the odd item when she is back in the area from her home in Bracknell, Berkshire.

She said: "This sort of event makes you wonder where the time has gone. The store opening was a really big deal because all you really had was little shops back then - it was revolutionary at the time."

Guests were asked to get in touch with the supermarket if they could pick themselves out in a photograph showing customers at the original opening back in 1974 published in the Daily Echo on July 10. Events co-ordinator Lesley Mead said the response had been fantastic.