Apple has launched its much-awaited iPhone in the UK. At 6.02pm this evening the waiting hordes were let into more than 1,300 Apple, O2 and Carphone Warehouse stores across the land to buy the device, which is a touchscreen iPod, mobile phone and internet browser all in one.

The scenes at the Apple Store in Regent Street, London resembled Beatlemania. A huge countdown took place as media scrambled to get through the door. Over at the O2 store on Oxford Street things were a little more genteel with around 30 people queueing by the time we left for Regent Street. O2 bods waited outside the door shouting "iPhone launch in 30 minutes" and the like, encouraging people to queue and handing out bottled water and cookies.

We're constantly uploading new pictures from the launch - see them here.

When we got to the Apple Store we joined a media queue. The scrum when we managed to get access (also at 6.02pm) was phenomenal. We headbutted a camera man and tripped over a newspaper photographer - it was a real battle for elbow room as Apple hosts greeted the first few buyers through the door with whoops and chants. They were ushered upstairs at the back of the store and emerged to walk down the main staircase in front of waiting photographers.

They held up their phones as they came down the stairs, delirious at the whole experience. Those in the queue seemed happy to have waited since the early hours in the cold. "We're here for the experience," said Sara and Matt from north London, having queued up since 5.30am this morning. "It's been fun actually - we've been fed and watered, and received lots of goody bags. Now we can't wait to get inside."

Chris, 24, spoke to Tech.co.uk just as he had laid his hands on his very own Apple iPhone. "I only queued up for a couple of hours so it hasn't been too bad. I've never been to an Apple launch before so this is really exciting."

'It's got all the latest technology'

One of the first ladies to get their hands on the phone, Darwina, said she loved the iPhone "Why? It's got all the latest technology - more than I'll ever use." And did she want it that bad to queue? "Of course!"

All the people we spoke to at the launch said they would honour O2's 18-month contract, and not risk having their Apple iPhone 'bricked' by any future firmware updates.

We also bumped into Nick Wilkins, O2's PR manager, who said the turnout was "quite mad". "It's so great to see so many people here, and I'm really proud of what we've done."

As we walked away to write this, a Scottish man across the road asked us "who was over there" We replied it was the iPhone launch. "No celebs?" he replied. "No," we said, "just a phone."

By contrast, there were 10 people at the Carphone Warehouse in Frome.

Multi-touch interface

The 8GB phone was first announced by Steve Jobs at Macworld way back in January and has been available in the US since July - sales of the device have topped 1.4 million there. September saw Apple announce O2 as its partner network for the UK since when iPhone fever has been well and truly upon us

The iPhone has received much acclaim for its multi-touch interface (also seen in the iPod touch) resulting in a pinch-and-pull web and picture browsing experience. The interface can also respond to delicate touches, meaning it's possible to flick through lists of songs or album covers.