Boxing Day sales records were smashed yesterday as shoppers sent tills into meltdown.
Across the country, thousands of eager bargain hunters waited patiently for stores to throw open their doors with some queuing overnight.
In the West Country, nearly 800 people had queued outside the Next store in Bristol's Cabot Circus complex where all items were more or less half-price. It was a scene replicated at Next stores across the region, with big early queues in Bridgwater and Weston-super-Mare. Shoppers were clearly willing to travel, as Cabot Circus saw bargain hunters arrive from as far away as Swindon and Yeovil.
And in London's West End shopping mecca, by 11am footfall was up 31.3 per cent on Boxing Day last year with sales fuelled by rich tourists.
The UK average footfall was up by 21.6 per cent. Flagship store Selfridges in bustling Oxford Street reported its most successful first hour of trade ever with £1.5 million rattling through the tills.
At The Mall, Cribbs Causeway, shoppers were queuing from 3am for the stores to open at 5am. Dilys Protheroe, 42, a transport planner from Weston-super-Mare, said she got up at 4.45am and arrived at Cabot Circus at about 6.20am.
"Money is tight and I've just not been spending any money on clothes," she said.
Hibak Ibrahim, 17, turned up at Cabot Circus with her two sisters from St Paul's at about 5am.
"We've bought loads of clothes – pyjamas, jeans and perfumes – and still not finished shopping," she said.
Cabot Circus director Kevin Duffy, said 2012 had been a difficult year for stores but there had been a surge in sales during the past few weeks.
He said: "Most retailers are in line with last year or seeing some growth which is a great achievement in the current climate.
"The sales between Boxing Day and New Year are a great time for consumers to build up their wardrobe for less, and the economic climate is putting more focus on sales as shoppers look closely at what they are spending. In particular, some of the most coveted items are the designer labels and brands – people still want luxurious brands and this is where some serious savings can be made."
Sue Stones, general manager of Harvey Nichols, said: "We have seen a very strong pre-Christmas performance and expect that to follow through the sales.
"Sales at stores like Harvey Nichols are traditionally very successful, as those people who wouldn't normally splash out on designer labels are able to afford the season's must-have bag, jacket or shoes."
Jonathan Edwards, commercial director at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway, said: "We had a slow start at the beginning of December but during the last couple of weeks we have seen our footfall go up by four per cent on the previous December."
