Hardcore Apple fans from Havering were among hundreds of people who queued for FIVE DAYS to get their hands on the latest iPad, this morning (Friday March 16).

The gadget geeks camped outside the Apple store in Regent Street, and the flagship store in Covent Garden, so they could be among the first to snap up the third version of the tablet device.

Jubilant fans emerged from the Covent Garden store, including Craig Joppins, 24, from Romford, who was third in the queue.

He said: “I bumped into two people I’d met at a previous Apple event. This is my fifth time in an Apple queue and this has been my best experience so far without a doubt. You really need to join a queue to discover what different things go on during an event. It’s well worth waiting all that time.”

Harry Barrington-Mountford, 22, from Upminster, queuing with his girlfriend Fenella Barnes, 30, in Regents Street, said he had been unable to sleep this week.

“We had such a great time queuing last time that we decided to do it again,” Harry said. “People always stop to talk to us. I am exhausted though, I have only had about 45 minutes of sleep.”

Fenella said she was not actually planning on buying a new iPad.

“I have been tempted to get one but I haven’t been tempted enough,” she said. “If I had a spare �500 then maybe I would consider it!”

The latest model, which has a higher resolution screen than previous models and a five megapixel camera with auto focus and auto exposure, ranges in price from �399 to �659.

Despite competition from cheaper rivals the iPad remains the most popular tablet computer.

Apple has sold more than 55 million iPads since its launch in 2010, including 40 million last year.

For many customers, visiting the store in person - instead of ordering online - gives them a chance to meet other die-hard Apple fans.