Boxing Day sales in Shropshire: Shoppers flock to get their hands on a bargain

Shops across Shropshire's town centres and retails parks displayed signs beckoning in the shoppers, and workers were out in the early hours ready for the queues.

Shrewsbury town centre was quiet early on Boxing Day, apart from shoppers who had made their way in to buy some cut-price bargains.

Steve and Kay Griffiths and their daughter Emma had grabbed some bargains in the Boxing Day sales, and had three full shopping bags to show for it.

The family, from Shrewsbury, had done some very early Christmas shopping for next year.

Emma, 24, said: "It's been very good, we've bought Christmas presents for next year from Boots.

"All of the 'three for two' items in Boots are now half price.

"We're planning on going to Next after."

The HR worker added: "The shops were quite busy just after 8am when I first came into town.

"I prefer it when it's not as busy as it's not as claustrophobic."

Kay, 51, said: "We come to the Boxing Day sales every year.

"A lot of people do online shopping now though."

Meanwhile, Les McGowan, his wife Janine and their grandson Joel Bucknell had travelled from Powys as they do each year.

Les said he had been told that there were about 40 people queueing outside Next in the Pride Hill Shopping Centre when it first opened.

The 64-year-old driving instructor said: "It used to be very busy with big queues but it's all changed now."

Janine, 58, said: "We come every year, but now it's quicker to do it online.

"The shops start the sales before Boxing Day now, so it's not the same.

"It's disappointing now.

"They don't do as much as they used to now, it used to be that all the shop was on sale and now it's about half. And there's always sales every time you go into any shop any time of the year now."