Freebies for a year for keen customer who started queuing at new Popeyes in Rotherham at 4am

Mum and daughter Elizabeth and Victoria Adeosun were the first through the drive-thru at the new Popeyes after it officially opened at 11am this morning, having begun waiting in the early hours.

They landed a year of free food, as did Jamie Poon, the first walk-in customer at the Parkgate Shopping outlet.

Popeyes said a queue up to 50 cars long had formed this morning as the American diner firm opened its first drive-thru in the UK.                                                                                                                                                    

The occupants of the first 25 vehicles within the drive-thru lane, as well as the first 25 pedestrians in the eat-in queue, were rewarded with a free Chicken Sandwich and car-themed Popeyes UK merchandise.

Victoria (below) said: “I have been to both the Leicester and London Popeyes restaurants, so when I heard that Popeyes was opening near home, I had to be one of the first in the queue, so I made my mum get up and come to the opening.”

Jamie added: “I found out about the competition a few months ago on Twitter and I have been keeping an eye on updates of the Rotherham opening ever since.

“I arrived at 4am and I can’t wait to try my first ever Popeyes Chicken Sandwich.”

Sam Doyle (above) also won free food at the restaurant's opening day celebrations

Mardi Gras style band, the Brass Funkeys, who have performed at Glastonbury and Ronnie Scott's, provided a New Orleans party vibe as the doors were opened for the first time.

Free breakfast muffins are on offer to early risers tomorrow.