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| Shoppers brave Boxing Day sales | Shoppers brave Boxing Day sales |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Retailers have launched their Boxing Day sales, but some shoppers have been wrong-footed by Sunday trading laws. | Retailers have launched their Boxing Day sales, but some shoppers have been wrong-footed by Sunday trading laws. |
| Because the 26 December falls on a Sunday, trading hours are restricted to six hours in England. | |
| Consumers are expected to seek out bargains before VAT rises from 17.5% to 20% on 4 January. | Consumers are expected to seek out bargains before VAT rises from 17.5% to 20% on 4 January. |
| Sue West, operations director of Selfridges in London, said the sale was "more challenging than we've ever had to do because of the late opening". | Sue West, operations director of Selfridges in London, said the sale was "more challenging than we've ever had to do because of the late opening". |
| With some 80,000 people expected to visit the store throughout Sunday, she added: "Managing this crowd is quite a challenge." | With some 80,000 people expected to visit the store throughout Sunday, she added: "Managing this crowd is quite a challenge." |
| The BBC's Ben Geoghegan said shoppers there - some of whom had been queuing for up to 12 hours - were "screaming with relief" when doors opened at the store and shoppers were allowed in from the cold. | The BBC's Ben Geoghegan said shoppers there - some of whom had been queuing for up to 12 hours - were "screaming with relief" when doors opened at the store and shoppers were allowed in from the cold. |
| Many retailers are offering heavy discounts to make up for the impact on sales of freezing pre-Christmas temperatures and heavy snow. | Many retailers are offering heavy discounts to make up for the impact on sales of freezing pre-Christmas temperatures and heavy snow. |
| Peter Cook, director of the White Rose Centre in Leeds, said he was expecting 65,000 people through his doors on Sunday. | Peter Cook, director of the White Rose Centre in Leeds, said he was expecting 65,000 people through his doors on Sunday. |
| "In terms of previous years, it's started much better," he said. "People are spending a lot of money." | "In terms of previous years, it's started much better," he said. "People are spending a lot of money." |
| Some stores - such as John Lewis's flagship Oxford Street outlet and branches of Next outside Scotland - are holding off opening their doors to their sales until Monday. | Some stores - such as John Lewis's flagship Oxford Street outlet and branches of Next outside Scotland - are holding off opening their doors to their sales until Monday. |
| However, shoppers in London's Westfield centre - who also had to contend with a Tube strike - said they were frustrated by the delay in getting into stores because of Sunday trading rules. | However, shoppers in London's Westfield centre - who also had to contend with a Tube strike - said they were frustrated by the delay in getting into stores because of Sunday trading rules. |
| "We're meant to be in a time of economic hardship, but here we've got all these people with money to spend wandering around not spending it," said James Dixon, 36, of Hayes, west London. | "We're meant to be in a time of economic hardship, but here we've got all these people with money to spend wandering around not spending it," said James Dixon, 36, of Hayes, west London. |
| "If it's the law, then the law should change." | "If it's the law, then the law should change." |
| Emma Wills, 27, of Putney, south-west London, added: "It's annoying because there's even less chance of beating the rush." | Emma Wills, 27, of Putney, south-west London, added: "It's annoying because there's even less chance of beating the rush." |
| Many consumers are also expected to avoid the High Street and shop from online the comfort of their own home to avoid the freezing conditions. | Many consumers are also expected to avoid the High Street and shop from online the comfort of their own home to avoid the freezing conditions. |
| Comparison website moneysupermarket.com forecasts this year's Boxing Day sales to be the biggest ever, estimating that the UK will spend £323m over the internet on 26 December. | Comparison website moneysupermarket.com forecasts this year's Boxing Day sales to be the biggest ever, estimating that the UK will spend £323m over the internet on 26 December. |