Reports have revealed that customers who waited overnight near an Apple store in London Friday said it was worth the wait as they purchased some of the first iPads sold in Europe.

The Daily Telegraph has reported that Apple's Regent Street store in London hired extra staff, opened an hour early and greeted the first stalwart customers with hugs, high-fives and thunderous applause.

Jake Lee, a college student who camped overnight and, as the first customer, was besieged by media requests for interviews, said, "It is ridiculously amazing. I just want to have a go on it now."

A 14-year-old student, Mitchell Marks, said he was pleased and so did his mother, Tracy Rahilly, who did the overnight vigil in front of the store for her son.

She said, "I have not slept all night, but this has been definitely worth it."

An Apple spokeswoman said that first day sales figures were not available on Friday. The touch-screen tablet computer is designed to handle Internet functions, serve as a digital reader and as a movie platform.

The newspaper also said that the device made its retail debut in Australia, Canada, France Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain and Switzerland on Friday. (With Inputs from Agencies)