SHOPPERS hit the high street in huge numbers as stores opened their doors for the first post-Christmas sales.
Bargain-hunters began queuing hours before the shops opened at Oxford Street in London, with retailers reporting improved sales on last year.
Even more shoppers were expected out today, with the likes of Marks & Spencer and Next starting their sales.
In Huddersfield, the Kingsgate Centre was busy with Boxing Day shoppers seeking bargains.
Many chains opened their doors early and offered bumper discounts to lure in shoppers low on confidence after months of financial uncertainty fuelled by the Northern Rock crisis.
Half-a-million shoppers braved the west end of London yesterday, while department store Selfridges said they had had their best ever start to a sale.
Richard Dodd, from the British Retail Consortium, said: “Yesterday was much busier than Boxing Day last year as more stores have started their post-Christmas sales early, rather than waiting till today.
“It’s clear that retailers are going to have to offer bumper sales to tempt customers in, because finances are under strain this year.
“A lot of customers are reluctant to spend and there are worries about how their finances are going to stand up.”
A spokesman for the White Rose Shopping Centre, Leeds, said the centre had seen the best ever start to the Boxing Day sales.
He said the malls were “extremely busy” before the centre officially opened at 10am and two car parks were full before 9am. Some people arrived at the centre at 5.30am.
“This has got to be the briskest start to a Boxing Day I’ve known for years,” the spokesman said.
“Some stores had massive queues. It seems to be an absolutely terrific start.”
Between 30,000 and 35,000 people visited the centre yesterday.
Tomorrow is expected to be even busier, with the start of the Next sale at 5am.
