The world's largest Disney store was forced to close just an hour after it officially opened as keen Chinese shoppers queued for more than a mile to get inside - the equivalent to nearly the entire length of Oxford Street.

Hundreds of customers waited more than three hours to enter the new 54,000 square feet store in Shanghai, even after it opened its doors at 1.14pm on Wednesday.

After one hour, customers were stopped from joining the queue due to fears of overcrowding, reported People's Daily Online.

Scroll down for video

Grand opening: Customers flocked to the new Disney store in Shanghai, which opened at 1.14pm yesterday

Huge queues: Keen shoppers queued for hours to get inside the first Disney store in China

Closed: Just an hour after opening a sign reading 'Closed for today' was put up for fear of overcrowding

Security staff held up a sign reading 'Closed for today' and set up a queuing system to control the crowd.

Signs were set out at the 60 minute, 90 minute and 180 minute marks to tell those waiting the estimated time it would take them to get inside.

Despite the long queues outside, the lucky customers who did manage to get inside the store said they had a pleasant experience.

Inside: The lucky customers who did manage to get in said they had a pleasant experience despite the queues

Huge: The Shanghai flagship has the largest retail space of any Disney stores worldwide

Mr Du, who entered the store at 1.30pm, said that the store was very well-designed.

According to local reports, some shoppers were queuing as early as 5.30am for the chance to get inside.

The Shanghai flagship is the first Disney store to open in China and has the largest retail space of any Disney stores across the world.

It will sell more than 2,000 Disney products, with prices ranging from 20 yuan (£2) to 1,000 yuan (£100).

The store boasts a 19-feet-high Magic Kingdom castle at its centre, where a show is performed every hour.

There is even an outdoor plaza featuring a Mickey Mouse flowerbed and there are plans to build a Disney clock tower.

A spokesman for the Shanghai Disney store said that the bestsellers on the first day were the toys specially designed for the grand opening.

The store will give Chinese Disney fans a taste of things to come, as a Disney Resort in Shanghai is due to open in spring 2016.

Hello Disney: Some shoppers arrived at the store as early as 5.30am, according to local reports

Patiently waiting: Shoppers queued for more than a mile down the block and along a nearby bridge