"Hundreds of people were crushed as the opening of the biggest Ikea store in England descended into chaos.

Nine ambulances were sent to the store in north London after reports that up to 20 people suffered heat exhaustion when the midnight opening turned into a riot. Staff closed the doors after half an hour amid fears the stampede could become a Hillsborough-style crush.

More than 4,000 flocked to the new store in Edmonton last night, lured by adverts promising huge discounts, including sofas at £45 each and bed frames cut to £30