Record Store Day saw a local shop multiply their profit tenfold after a stream of over 300 customers came to celebrate the event.

St Albans’ Empire Records had people queuing from 3.30am in order to clinch the hot records of the day, which were released as special editions.

Dave Burgess, manager at the store, said: “by the time it got to 9am, there were around 100 people queuing to get in to the store.

“We were very happy with it; it was our first one and it was a success as far as we’re concerned. I think it will get bigger and better each and every year after this.”

The event, which happened last Saturday, saw the shop gain 200 different items exclusively produced for the day.

Empire Records is the only independent record shop in the area, which makes Record Store Day even more important for business. Dave added: “It helps drive customers to independent businesses.

“It’s something special that attracts them to come to the store; it’s not an online thing. They have to physically come to the store, you can’t buy online, and you can’t reserve anything. It’s all about being there on the day.”

Record Store Day started seven years ago in the US, and has since been taken up by hundreds of record stores across the UK.