AISLE bet you remember Basildon's beloved SavaCentre! This year marks 40 years since the much-hyped hypermarket of its day opened its doors.

The grand opening was March 18, 1980 and although it rained, the miserable weather didn't deter the crowds from turning out in record numbers.

Echo: Queues at the bakeryQueues at the bakery

On its first day of trading 18,000 customers bolted through the doors of the much-anticipated store, which was built within the Eastgate Centre complex.

There was a 600 strong workforce in place, three miles of display shelving, 36 checkouts in operation, 2,500 shopping trolleys, 900 car parking spaces as well as everything the customer could want- groceries, fresh food, frozen aisles, homeware, clothing and even a TV and audio department.

Echo: Suitable attire - bosses at the storeSuitable attire - bosses at the store

Owned by Sainsbury's and BHS, Basildon's superstore was the third SavaCentre to open in the UK- the other two were in Washington and Hempstead- but this was the largest yet.

It occupied a total area of 150,000 square feet (13,935 square metres) about half of which was used for warehousing and the other half as the sales hall.

Echo: The plush new restaurantThe plush new restaurant

At the helm was store director Tony Campbell, aged 30, who had come over to Basildon from his role as deputy store director at the Hempstead SavaCentre.

"I have seen stores on the continent too, he said. "but SavaCentre is unique."

And it was. one of the highlights of the Basildon branch was its 380- seater restaurant which offered an upper level panoramic view of the entire store and was, unusually for the time, allowed to serve alcoholic drinks.

The day before the grand opening a VIP buffet lunch was held inside the SavaCentre restaurant where VIP guest Sir John Sainsbury wished everyone involved in the Basildon venture a big success.

Echo: How the initial plan was reportedHow the initial plan was reported

Chairman of Basildon Council Cliff Jones was among the local dignitaries praising Basildon's new super store. Long serving Basildon labour Councillor Ron Austin who died in 2014, was also at the opening and was full of admiration for the project, which had been several years in the making.

"I can only agree with all that I've heard said about this store," he said "that it marks the full development and progress of the shopping facilities here and that Basildon has just been waiting for a venture such as this." SavaCentre would remain a favourite amongst shoppers until 2004 when it was sold to Asda.

Checkout our gallery of photographs of the Basildon SavaCentre. Some are from the opening day and show the inside of the store, while another shows Basildon MP at the time, Harvey Proctor, receiving a guided tour of the supermarket site in 1979 while construction was underway.

All photos are from the Sainsbury Archive .