By John Thorne
BBC News
A good hour before the doors opened there was a clutch of cars parked close to the main entrance. Engines running to combat the pre-dawn cold, these hardy shoppers were after the biggest bargains.
With five minutes to go, about 100 people were gathered outside the store shutters. Babies in buggies, a group of teenage girls, a few bleary-eyed males on clear and specific retail missions.
Then at precisely 0700 GMT the sales battle commenced. The crowd flowing into Debenhams at the Trafford Centre in Manchester, the first store to open for the traditional Boxing Day sales beanfeast.
The shop was offering bargains up to 70% off. The kitchen section, perfumes and fashion-wear appeared to be the shoppers' immediate favourites.
Within the hour Selfridges then John Lewis were also vying for the bargain hunters. And the Malls across this huge retail complex were buzzing.
'It's brilliant!'
Maxine O'Connor was one of the early birds. "I'm excited and the children will be. I am all sorted for next year, I have bought birthday presents too.
"I was here for 6.45, there was no pushing or shoving, I cannot fault it, it's brilliant."
With the British Retail Consortium warning the full December spending figures "won't be pretty," the big store managers must be apprehensive.
But again experience here among the 260 plus stores that make up the Trafford Centre site appears to buck the trend.
"Already in the first hour we have surpassed last year's figures"
Early checks seem to show a post-Christmas shopping splurge.
Mark Limby manages the huge Selfridges departmental shop. "There were over a thousand shoppers waiting at our doors, our security staff were almost overwhelmed by the rush.
"Already in the first hour we have surpassed last year's figures so we are well pleased," Mark told me.
By mid-morning the complex was operating at full shopping pelt. The walkways were crowded, cafes busy almost like a normal bumper retail day, apart from the huge, gaudy sales stickers on the bulging carrier bags.
And Justin Webb, of the Trafford Centre management, confirmed that this would be the biggest Boxing Day in the centre's 10-year history.
"We reckon over 140,000 people will come through the Trafford Centre - and that is a record. The figures are good whatever the experts are predicting."
Certainly the British fascination with shopping seems to be surviving despite, or is it because of, the dire economic forecasts.
Claire Watts drove up from Stoke on Trent with no particular sales targets. But she had three bulging bags when I talked to her.
"I bought these coats which were a real bargain. I'm really glad we came, its the chance to buy what you really need at an unexpectedly good price."
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