MORE than 350,000 people visited Eden in its first four days - more than twice the population of Wycombe district.

Over the first four days of trading, a staggering 350,000 shoppers went to Eden to join in the opening celebrations and experience High Wycombe's new £300million shopping and leisure destination.

The figure smashed centre bosses' expectation that 235,000 people would go to discover the new store during it's opening weekend from last Thursday to Sunday.

It also exceeds footfall figures from other recently opened town centre schemes.

Wycombe district has a population of around 162,000 people.

Daniel Tomkinson, centre director of Eden said: "We were completely amazed by the phenomenal amount of people that have visited Eden over its opening weekend.

"The footfall figures exceeded our highest hopes and the atmosphere was incredible.

"We always knew that there was a demand for a quality shopping experience in High Wycombe and surrounding areas but seeing the hundreds of thousands of visitors shopping and enjoying all of Eden's fantastic facilities was a real buzz."

Eden's shops have also experienced trading figures that superseded all expectations.

On Thursday, Marks & Spencer reported more than 10,000 customers had walked through their doors by 2pm - just four hours after they opened at 10am.

Jillian Staniforth, store manager of the new House of Fraser at Eden, said: "House of Fraser has had a fantastic opening with phenomenal footfall.

"We are trading well above our expectations. We are now looking forward to a busy Easter weekend as shoppers continue to come into the town centre to experience one of the most innovative House of Fraser stores we have delivered and to check out the region's most exciting shopping and leisure destination."

But some Free Press readers questioned the official figures.

Mario, wrote on our website: "These figures are pure bluster, the centre is failing miserably. Takings at the counters are appalling, some of the retailers are spitting nails and feel duped."

But Smokey, High Wycombe, replied to say: "Oh that's interesting and certainly contradicts what I was told as I went round Eden.

"Do you want it to fail? And if so why? Wycombe is making a real effort to get into the 21st century but all a lot of you can do is whine and moan.

"Would it make you happy if Eden had to close and became a ghost shopping centre? Would you be happy to perhaps go back 20 years and enter the dark cold Octagon? Not all the shops in Eden are open yet so we have more excitement to come."