More than 200 customers welcomed Aldi’s long-awaited new store in Tranent last Thursday.

The Haddington Road store handed out golden envelopes to the first 100 people in the queue to mark the occasion, with each of the tickets containing a prize.

John Pritchard from Macmerry, who queued for 11 hours to guarantee his place, walked away with the 32” TV star prize, which he donated to Edinburgh's Sick Kids hospital.

The store also donated a range of products including those from its Mamia range to the Tranent Parent and Toddler Group.

Stuart Nicholls, store manager, was delighted with the first day's trading.

He said: “It’s been fantastic meeting so many customers today at the golden ticket opening celebration and we hope they enjoy the fresh, locally sourced produce at everyday low prices.

"The feedback so far from customers has been really good, both in store and on our Facebook page, so that's encouraging.

“Aldi is proud to engage with the local community and we are looking forward to donating products to the Tranent Parent and Toddler Group. We hope that this support enables them to continue the great work they do in Tranent.”

The long-awaited supermarket has created about 20 new jobs, and Mr Nicholls was delighted to see local people filling those positions.

"A lot of the staff are from the local area, and that's great because when customers come through the door they will be seeing a familiar, friendly face."

The store has opened ahead of schedule, with Aldi bosses firstly telling the Courier it would be open in "early 2016", before that date was then revised to "before Christmas 2015."

And Robert McNeill, Tranent Gala chairman and member of Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council, took to social media to praise the supermarket after his first visit last Thursday afternoon.

Mr McNeill said: "Just popped into new Aldi Tranent very impressed and plenty car parking."

Aldi Tranent will now be open between 8am-10pm Mondays-Saturdays, and 9am-7pm on Sundays.