Sunderland shoppers queue from 5am for start of Boxing Day sales

Dozens of shoppers waited outside The Bridges Shopping Centre for its doors to open at 6am to greet customers heading to the traditional December 26 sale at fashion store Next.

More shops began trading at 8am before the centre, which has about 90 businesses, fully opened at 9am.

A spokesman for The Bridges said thousands of people had teemed inside with car parks quickly filling up.

Centre director Andy Bradley added: “The Bridges has enjoyed a really busy period since the autumn, with people coming to the centre to do their Christmas shopping and to enjoy the activities on offer across the city centre.

“And we’re delighted that the positive response to our retail offering has continued, with a huge number of people turning out to snap up some Boxing Day sales bargains.

“It’s an excellent end to 2019 and we look forward to a really vibrant new year across the city.”

Down the A19 at Dalton Park retail park, in Murton, “a large queue of people” was waiting for the Next sale to begin at 8am.

A centre spokeswoman added: By noon our car counter has recorded a growth of 17% on last year so visitors have clearly been ready for some bargain hunting this year.”

Nationwide, however, Britons are expected to spend £200million less in the post-Christmas sales this year with environmental concerns among the factors cited.