Clubbers enjoying 3am breakfast

As dance music plays from a radio behind the counter, staff on the graveyard shift at Greggs restock the shelves with piping hot pizza baguettes and full English breakfast pasties.

Welcome to the Wolverhampton city centre bakery at 3am which has fast become the new place of choice for hungry clubbers once the pubs and clubs kick out.

Night manager Ryan Clark was in a chirpy mood considering the time yesterday morning, dancing along to the radio as he laughed and joked with the customers.

"I'm only 19 so I'd quite like to be out there myself, but I really enjoy the late shift because everyone's always really happy and in a good mood after a night out," he said cheerfully.

The 10pm – 4.30am opening from Thursdays to Sundays was launched 10 weeks ago and has proved so popular, bosses have now introduced evening specials. The biggest sellers, according to Mr Clark, are the balti, beef madras and breakfast pasties at £2.50 and jumbo sausage rolls at 99p.

Wolverhampton's Market Street store is one of only four in the West Midlands to open after dark and the move has exceeded all expectations, attracting customers from miles around.

Last night they included care workers Richard Jones and Claire Parsons, who despite enjoying a night out in Walsall, caught a taxi seven miles to Wolverhampton at 2.30am yesterday just to visit Greggs. Mr Jones, aged 21, and Miss Parsons, 20, both from Coseley, made a bumper order of two full English pasties, four pizzas, two jumbo sausage rolls and a bacon and cheese melt. "It's a great idea," Miss Parsons said.

After a few drinks at the Blast Off club night held at the city's Civic Hall, David Lowbridge, friends Steve Birks and Simon Bufton, all from Perton, headed straight to Greggs for sausage rolls.

Mr Bufton, a 27-year-old IT worker, said: "At 99p, it's a lot cheaper and healthier than a kebab – the sausage rolls are good at preventing hangovers too."

Other Greggs to open until 4.30am include branches in Birmingham and Nottingham following campaigns on Facebook.

Aspiring DJ Alex Perrin, of Oxley, wandered into the shop at 3am. The 19-year-old summed up its popularity, saying: "I think Greggs opening late is the best idea since sliced bread."