One of the first people to get his hands on the new iPhone this morning felt "on top of the world" and said he wanted to celebrate by taking a selfie.

Jameel Ahmed, 26, and his friend Sam Sheikh, 27, originally from India and now living in London, were the first two technology fans through the doors of the Apple store in Covent Garden to pick up the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus handsets.

Leaving with his purchase, Mr Ahmed said he was "really excited", adding: "I'd like to open it and take my selfie."

Hundreds of people queued outside the store and took part in a 10-second countdown before the doors opened at 8am and cheering fans were escorted in by staff.

The US company announced the new devices to much fanfare at a highly anticipated event in California last week.

Some fans were so keen to get their hands on the new iPhones they began camping outside the Apple store in Regent Street, London, on Monday.

Around 30 or so people set up camp outside the store yesterday, with tents, tables and chairs and even bottles of wine bearing testimony to their dedication.

Mr Ahmed said: "It's a challenge with my friends that I'll have the iPhone first."

Mr Sheikh said he was glad his pursuit of a new iPhone was more successful than his last attempt, when he queued for almost seven nights and felt like a "loser". He said he was feeling "very excited, very content, very successful". On Monday Apple announced a record number of first day pre-orders of the two handsets, with more than four million in the first 24 hours.

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are available in 10 countries from today, including the UK, the US, Australia and Singapore, and a further 20 next Friday.

Both handsets will be available in new sizes for the first time, with the iPhone 6 offering a 4.7in screen, while the 6 Plus boasts the biggest screen Apple has ever produced for a smartphone at 5.5in.

Network operator EE said it will ensure that customers who pre-ordered new handsets through Phones 4u, which went into administration on Sunday, would still be able to get them in its stores.

A spokesman said: "All across the country we have set aside iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus handsets, enough for Phones 4u customers who pre-ordered iPhones on EE through Phones 4u.

"If they go into EE stores and show their pre-order receipts they will be able to claim one of the devices."