TEMPERS frayed in the early hours at Lakeside as around 700 people queued to be the first to get their hands on the new iPhone.

Police had to be called after many were left disappointed to find the Apple store had run out of the iPhone6 and iPhone Plus, despite them spending several hours in the rain on Friday morning.

Those in the queue have said they were told at 7.30am that the store had sold out of the devices, which can retail up to £789.

A spokeswoman for Lakeside said they worked closely with the store ahead of the launch, and that the queue was in good spirits until weather intervened.

She said: “Unfortunately heavy rain meant that many people left the queue and when they returned there was an issue over previously held places. Order was quickly restored by Apple security staff and the police, and our staff made the wait as comfortable as possible by handing out fruit and refreshments.

A police spokesman said: “Police were called to the Lakeside Shopping Centre at around 4am on Friday, September 19, following reports that some people in a queue waiting to get in the store were being aggressive.

“Officers attended but found no offences had been committed. Centre security staff were on the scene and managed the queue.”