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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| High Street sales start with rush | High Street sales start with rush |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Shoppers have hit the High Street in large numbers as stores cut prices in their post-Christmas sales. | |
| Bargain hunters started queuing at 0430 GMT on London's Oxford Street and retailers reported one of the most successful starts ever to the sales. | |
| Many shops said the number of people queuing for bargains had more than doubled compared with last year. | Many shops said the number of people queuing for bargains had more than doubled compared with last year. |
| A lot of stores opened early and at one point shops in central London were taking £1,000 every minute. | |
| Some stores, including Birmingham's Selfridges, offered discounts of up to 75% on some goods. | Some stores, including Birmingham's Selfridges, offered discounts of up to 75% on some goods. |
| Selfridges' Oxford Street branch saw 9,000 customers through the doors in the first hour of trading alone. | Selfridges' Oxford Street branch saw 9,000 customers through the doors in the first hour of trading alone. |
| Some 500,000 shoppers ventured into London's West End on Boxing Day. | |
| 'Much busier' | 'Much busier' |
| At the Lakeside shopping centre in Essex, hundreds of cars were waiting for the centre to open at 0700 GMT. | At the Lakeside shopping centre in Essex, hundreds of cars were waiting for the centre to open at 0700 GMT. |
| The centre's House of Fraser reported taking more than £1,000 every minute and more than a third more shoppers compared with last Boxing Day. | The centre's House of Fraser reported taking more than £1,000 every minute and more than a third more shoppers compared with last Boxing Day. |
| Richard Dodd, from the British Retail Consortium, said: "Today is much busier than Boxing Day last year as more stores have started their post-Christmas sales early, rather than waiting till tomorrow. | Richard Dodd, from the British Retail Consortium, said: "Today is much busier than Boxing Day last year as more stores have started their post-Christmas sales early, rather than waiting till tomorrow. |
| A lot of customers are reluctant to spend and there are worries about how their finances are going to stand up Richard Dodd, British Retail Consortium | A lot of customers are reluctant to spend and there are worries about how their finances are going to stand up Richard Dodd, British Retail Consortium |
| "It's clear that retailers are going to have to offer bumper sales to tempt customers in, because finances are under strain this year. | "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 lot of customers are reluctant to spend and there are worries about how their finances are going to stand up." |
| In Birmingham, 60% of Selfridges sales were taken up by ladies accessories. | In Birmingham, 60% of Selfridges sales were taken up by ladies accessories. |
| A spokesman for the White Rose Shopping Centre, in Leeds, West Yorkshire, said it had enjoyed its best Boxing Day ever. | A spokesman for the White Rose Shopping Centre, in Leeds, West Yorkshire, said it had enjoyed its best Boxing Day ever. |
| "Some stores had massive queues. It seems to be an absolutely terrific start." | "Some stores had massive queues. It seems to be an absolutely terrific start." |
| Sales in store began early on Boxing DayBetween 30,000 and 35,000 people were expected to visit the centre on Boxing Day and Thursday was expected to be even busier. The clothing retailer Next is due to start its sale at 0500 GMT. | Sales in store began early on Boxing DayBetween 30,000 and 35,000 people were expected to visit the centre on Boxing Day and Thursday was expected to be even busier. The clothing retailer Next is due to start its sale at 0500 GMT. |
| At Meadowhall, in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, people waited in line for at least an hour before stores opened. | At Meadowhall, in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, people waited in line for at least an hour before stores opened. |
| MetroCentre, in Gateshead, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, proclaimed its Boxing Day sale as the biggest one in Europe. | |
| A spokeswoman said: "It's very positive so far. Last year we had 60,000 people and I think we'll beat that." | A spokeswoman said: "It's very positive so far. Last year we had 60,000 people and I think we'll beat that." |
| Brisk online sales | Brisk online sales |
| However, millions of shoppers have already turned their backs on the High Street to pick up bargains online. | However, millions of shoppers have already turned their backs on the High Street to pick up bargains online. |
| An estimated 3.6 million people spent part of their Christmas Day searching for good deals via the internet, according to the Interactive Media in Retail Group (MRG). | An estimated 3.6 million people spent part of their Christmas Day searching for good deals via the internet, according to the Interactive Media in Retail Group (MRG). |
| Marks & Spencer, which launched its online sale just after midnight on Christmas Day, reported brisk trading. | Marks & Spencer, which launched its online sale just after midnight on Christmas Day, reported brisk trading. |
| A spokeswoman said: "The online sale started at one minute after midnight and we were particularly busy between midnight and 0100 GMT." | A spokeswoman said: "The online sale started at one minute after midnight and we were particularly busy between midnight and 0100 GMT." |