Shops and supermarkets across Shropshire were today bracing themselves for a record-breaking stampede of last-minute Christmas shoppers.Hefty queues formed from the early hours at county butchers while supermarket car parks were jammed before daylight on what retailers claim will be the busiest shopping day of the year.

Many shops opened earlier than normal this morning. They were prepared for a rush despite what has been a difficult year for the UK’s battered economy.

Thousands of people have poured through the doors of Sainsbury’s in Oswestry over the last few days.

Peter Briggs, manager said yesterday’s takings had been the highest the store had ever recorded, since it opened 11 years ago.

Meanwhile Steve Pritchard, of Bayston Hill Butchers, near Shrewsbury, today said the shop had received record orders for meat such as turkey, beef and sausages.

He said: “It’s been busy, very busy and there have been record orders for the shop. It’s probably been the best in about five years.”

People were also queuing patiently outside Doug Lewis’s butcher shop in Springfield, Shrewsbury, today as staff frantically worked to cope with demand.

Elsewhere in the country retailers also looked forward to another brisk shopping day today – some starting sales up to 48 hours early.

On the last day of trading before Christmas, unprecedented offers could once again lure in healthy crowds, with a number of firms starting sales today.

DIY chain B&Q is offering 50 per cent off all its kitchens and bathrooms, with discounts of up to 75 per cent on some other items, and John Lewis will start its clearance sale online at 6pm.

Superdrug will begin an online sale a few hours later with discounts of up to 90 per cent from midnight.

Tony Nicholls, of Ken Francis butchers on Market Street in Wellington said he arrived to start their busiest day of the year at 5.10am today.

“The first customers were here at 6.10am and we have got 180 turkeys to go out by the time we close at 2pm.”

By Russell Roberts