Shoppers queue from 6am - but 'quieter than normal' start to Sunderland's Boxing Day sales

Dozens of people were still out early eager to snap up cut-price products from shops in The Bridges in Sunderland city centre, such as clothing giants Next and River Island, and cosmetic store Lush.

But centre director Karen Eve admitted: “It has been a quieter than normal Boxing Day so far.

"Some of the stores, such as Next, River lsland and Lush, had people outside from 6am.

"But you are talking about 30 people or so by the time they were due to open, and as soon as the doors opened the queues went in and cleared.

"I think people have responded to the conditions at the moment.

"A lot of people have less money, there is the new variant of Covid-19 which is in people’s minds, and the shops themselves are probably stocked with less stock to sell off.”

Among the early shoppers was Rebekka Gardiner, 28, of Seaham, who came straight down to The Bridges at 7am after finishing a Christmas Day shift as a support worker.

She also had to make a return journey to the centre after depositing her first round of bargains in the boot of her family’s car.

Among her purchases was £200 of half-price soaps and toiletries from cosmetics store Lush.

She said: “This will see me through the year.”

Rebekka, who has visited The Bridges on Boxing Day for the last three years, was also buying some birthday presents for early in 2021.

She added: “There are not as many people out as usual, which to be expected, and it feels safe with people following social distancing.”

Rosalind Taylor, 52, of Seaham, who was out bargain hunting for Christmas 2021 with family, said: “Normally I would be here for 7am on Boxing Day to get in the queues for Next and Boots.

"But with all that has gone on I did not think there would be as much on offer or that it would be as busy as normal so we’ve come down a bit later.

"There were still some bargains to be had, particularly in Next where there was a lot of things down to 50% off, so I have probably saved myself about £100.”

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