Bargain hunters thronged round David Morgan's entrance

The family-owned David Morgan department store will close its doors for good at the end of January.

On Thursday, shoppers formed long queues outside its many entrances as it began its final sale to get rid of �10m of stock.

Last month the shop celebrated its 125th - and last - anniversary

James Shaughnessy, David Morgan's promotions manager, who has worked for the firm for 15 years, said he was overwhelmed by the public response.

"We were expecting a lot of people, but it's safe to say it's as much as we could have hoped for. A lot of the customers are emotional about it.

"Some of the people are grief-stricken. If you ask them where they are going to go, they say they're not going to shop any more!"

Win Harris has visited the shop since she was a child

One life-long David Morgan shopper waiting patiently in the queue for the main entrance, Win Harris from Aberdare, told the BBC Wales news website: "I'm in Cardiff every week and I'm really going to miss this store.

"I didn't think I'd have to queue though.

"David Morgan has always been special. I can't explain it but there's a different atmosphere.

"You wouldn't come to Cardiff unless you went to David Morgan.

"I think it's a shame [it's closing], especially for the older generation. We're a bit more sentimental.

"It will be interesting to see what goes there."

In a smaller queue 50 yards along the road, Karen Hutchings, from Llanishen in Cardiff, waited to get in to the linens department.

"My daughter does a lot of dance shows so I buy a lot of material here," she said.

Store assistant Janet Jacklin thinks the staff 'are like a family'

"I also come at Christmas and buy a lot of presents.

"It's always been here - I'll be sorry to see it go in a way."

Inside the store, shoppers with an eye for a bargain thronged the aisles, with fashions, linens and toys particularly popular.

One man was overheard on the escalator saying: "I think half of Cardiff is here", and tnother told a shop assistant she had arrived at three-and-a-quarter hours before the start of the sale at 1115 GMT.

Most members of staff were either behind tills ringing up the results of customers' bargain hunting or answering queries, but in the basement upholstery department Janet Jacklin was able to spare a few minutes from her 12-hour day to lament the end of an era.

"It's sad. There's a lovely atmosphere here. It's a joy to come to work here - not many people can say that about their job.