A department store has kicked off its 125th year of trading with a mammoth £4m sale.

Ilford Recorder: John Bodgers, the founder of Bodgers' grandson, reminsicing over early photo albums of Bodgers in the beginningJohn Bodgers, the founder of Bodgers' grandson, reminsicing over early photo albums of Bodgers in the beginning (Image: Archant)

People were queuing around the block to gain access to the exclusive invite-only first day of discounts at Bodgers in Station Lane, Ilford, last week before the store opened its doors to the public on Friday.

Manager, Rai Holdstock, said: “It has been going really well and we’ve had a very positive response from the public.

“The sale is just the first of a few events we are holding this year to mark Bodgers’ 125th anniversary.”

An exhibition will be held in their restaurant with historical pictures of the department store, which previously extended through an arcade onto the High Road, over the years.

Ilford Recorder: The crowds queueing around the block for the Bodgers sale in January 1983The crowds queueing around the block for the Bodgers sale in January 1983 (Image: Archant)

There will also be a few other discount events as well as a huge anniversary celebration in the summer.

“It’s a very big deal,” said Mr Holdstock.

“There’s a couple of other things in the pipeline as well but I don’t want to say what they are just yet – you’ll have to wait and see.”

Mr Holdstock has been the store manager at Bodgers for the past eight years having previously worked in British Home Stores.

Ilford Recorder: Olympian Sebastian Coe opened the sports department in Bodgers in 1989Olympian Sebastian Coe opened the sports department in Bodgers in 1989 (Image: Archant)

When a job came up at this landmark institution he jumped at the chance of running it.

Bodgers was opened in 1890 at 113 High Road, which is now the location of a Poundland shop, by a pioneer in the retail trade, John Bodger.

Be was elected as Ilford Council chairman while still working at his shop and continued to run it until his death in 1920 where he was succeeded by his son and grandson.

Bodgers has undergone a few updates over the years, including a £500,000 refurbishment in 1999 to bring it into the 21st century, but what has remained is its status as an institution in Ilford.

The annual sale always has an early two-day access for its regular customers before opening to the general public and it will continue until March 8.