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Shoppers enter car-free West End Shoppers enter car-free West End
(about 4 hours later)
Traffic has been taken off the streets of the West End in a bid to encourage more Christmas shoppers.Traffic has been taken off the streets of the West End in a bid to encourage more Christmas shoppers.
About 200 bus routes on Oxford and Regent Street have been re-routed for VIP (Very Important Pedestrians) Day - now in its fifth year. Hundreds of buses that usually travel along Oxford and Regent Street have been re-routed for VIP (Very Important Pedestrians) Day - now in its fifth year.
Hundreds of shops are offering entertainment, pamper and relaxation zones for weary shoppers.Hundreds of shops are offering entertainment, pamper and relaxation zones for weary shoppers.
Retailers are hoping to improve on last year's traffic-free day sales when they made £150m.Retailers are hoping to improve on last year's traffic-free day sales when they made £150m.
Jace Tyrell, from the New West End Company which represents retailers in the area, said: "As most people will have been been paid their pre-Christmas pay cheques, and with 19 Christmas shopping days left, we are hoping for a superb day this Saturday."Jace Tyrell, from the New West End Company which represents retailers in the area, said: "As most people will have been been paid their pre-Christmas pay cheques, and with 19 Christmas shopping days left, we are hoping for a superb day this Saturday."
Entertainment zones will include Selfridges Pop Up Panto shows outside the front of the store, with the first performance of 30 panto dames kicking the day off at midday.Entertainment zones will include Selfridges Pop Up Panto shows outside the front of the store, with the first performance of 30 panto dames kicking the day off at midday.
London's mayor Boris Johnson said the initiative continues to be a "resounding success"London's mayor Boris Johnson said the initiative continues to be a "resounding success"
Last year's VIP Day attracted more than 1.5 million shoppers.Last year's VIP Day attracted more than 1.5 million shoppers.