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HUNDREDS of people lined the streets of High Wycombe yesterday to celebrate the opening of Eden - and were treated to a show to remember.

Crowds gathered in excitement from 9am to watch a procession that promised music, dance and then a lot of shopping.

The opening finally got underway at 9.35am when a lone drummer began to make his way through the centre from Miss Selfridge.

More musicians joined to create a cacophony of sound including trumpets, saxophones, clarinet and percussion.

One interested spectator was a Jack Russell brought in to celebrate the opening of HMV, which has the breed as its logo.

The musicians stopped at Jones Bootmakers where staff cut a ribbon over its entrance - letting loose five carnival dancers. More ribbons were cut to open stores as the parade passed, coming to a halt outside H&M and Marks & Spencer.

Here the spectators gave thunderous applause.

Alan Peach, director of retail developments for Multiplex, which has built the centre, then thanked workers who completed the three-year project.

Lesley Clarke, leader of Wycombe District Council, which is leasing the land to Multiplex stepped forward.

Putting aside speeches for shoppers' hunger to see the new centre Mrs Clarke said: "Thank you everyone for being so patient. You have waited a long time for this, let's get the show on the road."

There was then a ten second countdown which shoppers excitedly joined in.

A detonation-style plunger was then pushed, setting off fireworks outside to gasps from the crowd. The band then struck up again to work its way back through Eden - as confetti showered Marks & Spencer to signal the store's opening.

Among the spectators was Jason Newton, 37, a picture framer from High Wycombe, who said: "It was brilliant, especially the drummers. I was really impressed with the fireworks, I think they got it right with the opening ceremony."

But not everyone was impressed with the parade's extravagance.

Jacqueline Green, retired of Deeds Grove, High Wycombe, said: "I think it was totally disgusting.

"It's more like the opening of a nightclub not a shopping centre, with lots of girls with their backsides out. It was not nice.

"I think this could have been done better. We have so many different cultures in this town, they all could have had a part to play."

9:10am Friday 14th March 2008

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