BARGAIN HUNT

THOUSANDS of bargain hunters flocked to the Trafford Centre and Manchester city centre on what is being described as the 'biggest Boxing Day sales for years.

- DIANNE BOURNE

Major retailers were going heavy on the discounts of up to 70 per cent off stock which lured festive revellers out of their homes and onto high streets on the bank holiday.

Despite a fairly slow start to the sales at both the Trafford Centre and Arndale Centre with many stores opening at 8am, by lunchtime there were huge crowds. The early birds caught the worm, though, with some of the biggest deals soon flying off shelves at the most popular stores opening up on Boxing Day - which included JD Sports, Lush, Selfridges, Zara, Pull & Bear and Footlocker.

Trainers were one of the biggest hits at all fashion retailers with many shoppers reporting 'massive bargains' to be had in stores. At JD Sports in the Trafford Centre and Arndale Centre, bargain hunters were stood shoulder-to-shoulder snapping up trainers at better than half price.

By lunchtime, the sports retailer had huge queues, with some shoppers reporting they were waiting at the tills from anywhere between 10 minutes up to half an hour. But that didn't put shoppers off the scent of a bargain and industry experts say the 2023 Boxing Day sales are set to be the biggest for five years.