No rest for Shropshire retail junkies as sales fever grips
[gallery] It's the day after Christmas – but that doesn't mean there is any rest for thousands of shoppers intent on finding a bargain.
Long queues stretched from the early hours of today as the Boxing Day Sales began.
Doors at the Pride Hill Shopping Centre in Shrewsbury opened at 6am for the Next sale, a scene replicated in Telford and other parts of the region.
About £3billion is expected to be spent today – and it is set to be one of the busiest online sales days on record with more than 150 million hits, up 25 per cent on last year.
First in the queue at Next in Shrewsbury this morning was Sally Anne Link, who arrived at 3am after travelling the 40 miles from her home in Ludlow. She said: "I've been sleeping outside. It's important for me to be first and as soon as the gates go up I'm in. I come for the bargains. I've got four grandchildren now and I might buy a few items for myself. It's 40 miles for us to get here but we all drive up together."
Christine Davis, 54, a housewife, from Lower Galdeford, Ludlow, said they would be "straight in and out". She said: "There's a group of six of us and I think we've been quite entertaining for the other queuing up. We've spent a lot of money in McDonalds too. I think today I'll probably be carrying everyone else's bags while they shop."
Kevin Lockwood, manager of the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside Shopping Centres, said: "It is as hectic as ever.
"People are anxious to take advantage of the post-Christmas sales."
Manager of Shrewsbury's Marks and Spencer, Martin Woodhouse, added: "It is an important time. We are making our staff a special hot breakfast to keep them going."
