Apple fans form queue 30 hours before launch of iPad 2

Apple fans are already queuing up at the firm's Regent Street store as the long-awaited launch of the iPad 2 draws ever nearer.

There were seven people in the queue at the time of writing. At the front was Jewles Lewis, who was fourth in line when the original iPad went on sale.

To ensure he was in prime position to buy the iPad 2, he rocked up at the Apple store at 7:30am on Thursday morning, a full 33 and a half hours before the official launch at 5pm on 25 March.

Lewis has his trusty iPad for company, although it is likely to run out of charge well before he gets his hands on the second generation device.

Apple sold 500,000 units of the iPad 2 in its opening weekend in the US, signalling that the tablet will continue to dominate the market.

The iPad was released in the US on 11 March and sold 500,0000 units in the opening weekend. Sales of the second-generation iPad appeared to be stronger than for the original device, which shifted 300,000 units on its first day.

Hundreds of Apple enhusiasts are expected to be in the queue by tomorrow and V3.co.uk will be reporting live from the Regent Street store ahead of the 5pm launch.