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Police called to 'Black Friday' supermarket crowds Police called to 'Black Friday' supermarket crowds
(about 1 hour later)
Police have been called to four supermarkets in London amid fears of crowd surges as people hunted for bargains on "Black Friday". Police have been called to more than 10 UK supermarkets amid fears of crowd surges as people hunt for bargains on "Black Friday".
Originating in the US, the date is fast becoming one of the biggest shopping days of the year in Britain. Greater Manchester Police attended five Tesco stores, making one arrest in Salford, while officers were called to three Tescos and an Asda in London.
Calls were made by both Tesco staff and queuing shoppers as people gathered at the Glover Drive store in Edmonton. South Wales Police said they were called to a number of Tesco stores.
Originating in the US, Black Friday is fast becoming one of the biggest shopping days of the year in Britain.
In London, police were called by both Tesco staff and queuing shoppers as people gathered at the Glover Drive store in Edmonton.
Officers also attended Tesco stores in Willesden and Surrey Quays and an Asda in Edgware at around midnight.Officers also attended Tesco stores in Willesden and Surrey Quays and an Asda in Edgware at around midnight.
There have been reports of large crowds at several supermarkets across the UK. The Metropolitan Police said officers worked with staff to "ensure that sale-goers were able to enter and exit the stores safely", and said no-one had been injured "as a result of the overcrowding".
In South Wales, police said they were called by concerned staff at a number of Tesco stores.
A spokesman said officers were twice called to Tesco in Excelsior Road, Cardiff, just after midnight, when concerns were raised about customer conduct inside the shop. No arrests were made.
Black Friday - historically the big sales day in America that follows the Thanksgiving holiday - has been adopted by an increasing number of shops in the UK.Black Friday - historically the big sales day in America that follows the Thanksgiving holiday - has been adopted by an increasing number of shops in the UK.
It was brought over by online store Amazon four years ago after internet shoppers noticed the US got the best deals.It was brought over by online store Amazon four years ago after internet shoppers noticed the US got the best deals.
Police said in a statement: "Officers have worked with store staff to ensure that sale-goers were able to enter and exit the stores safely. Tesco has previously said it expects Black Friday to beat Boxing Day sales in 2014.
70% discounts
"No persons have been injured at any of the locations as a result of the overcrowding."
The force said no arrests had been made and officers were hoping to "withdraw" from the locations in the early hours of Friday.
Elsewhere in the UK shoppers have described chaos as people rushed to buy bargains.
One person who purchased a coffee machine at a discount price took to social networking site Twitter to voice their delight.
He tweeted: "After the absolute carnage that is black Friday in a Tesco extra in the North of England, I walked away with a £100 coffee machine for £30."
Tesco has previously said it expects Black Friday to beat Boxing Day sales in 2014 as it prepares discounts of as much as 70%.
Its 24-hour stores began selling a minute after midnight, and extra staff have been laid on in some areas.Its 24-hour stores began selling a minute after midnight, and extra staff have been laid on in some areas.
Are you shopping for a bargain in the Black Friday sales? Did you attend any of the sales overnight? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience Are you shopping for a bargain in the Black Friday sales? Did you attend any of the sales overnight? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukwith your experience
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