NEW stocks of a 'miracle' moisturiser went on sale in Manchester today - and the first five people in the queue were men.

The city centre branch of Boots was one of only four stores in Britain to open early for shoppers wanting new supplies of the sought-after No7 Protect & Perfect beauty serum.

More than 50 people queued at the store from 5am to get their hands on the cream.

The £16.75 anti-ageing cream's reputation was boosted after it was featured on a BBC2 Horizon programme, where scientists found it eased out wrinkles.

Stocks immediately sold out and 50,000 people have signed up to waiting lists.

The Market Street branch at 7am for Boots' fastest-ever selling product.

Joe Chuwen, 67, of Ardwick, arrived at 5.30am. The former steeplechase jockey said he was lured by the Horizon show, which featured eminent Manchester University dermatologist Prof Chris Griffiths.

Mr Chuwen said: "When I was jockey I was outside a lot, and I've used moisturiser for years. I think it's kept me looking young."

Damage

Prof Griffiths and his team carried out research into skin ageing, particularly the effects of UV light, and found that the Boots cream did help to combat the effects of sun damage.

Alan Bickerton, 69, of Collyhurst, arrived at 5am and was second in the queue. "I came here to buy the cream for a friend," he said. "I was surprised to find there was only one person ahead of me - and that it was all men at the front of the queue."

Michael Ball, 53, of Ardwick, added: "I am buying it for my sister-in-law, who lives in Spain and is desperate to get hold of it."

Boots has set up a special customer care team just to manage the number of calls about it.

Graham Hardy, head of customer care at Boots, said: "We've heard many stories why women should be top of the list to get the serum , including `It's my son's wedding in three months' time'.

"Most don't even know the name of it, simply calling it the miracle cream, vanishing cream or just 'that cream'."