Mad shopping dashes and seasonal snow
Shoppers in Shropshire and Mid Wales were today hitting high streets, shopping centres and supermarkets to snap up some last-minute stocking fillers despite the county being hit by its first real snow of the festive season.
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Shoppers in Shropshire and Mid Wales were today hitting high streets, shopping centres and supermarkets to snap up some last-minute stocking fillers despite the county being hit by its first real snow of the festive season.
Up to five inches of snow covered some areas of the region, with most other areas including Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury experiencing one to two inches.
Dense freezing fog also made conditions worse for motorists heading for the shops or making the big Christmas getaway to see friends and family.
West Mercia Police warned drivers to take extreme care.
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A woman escaped serious injury when her car hit a house in Oswestry at about 5.30am today in Cabin Lane.
An ambulance service spokesman said those in the car managed to get out and did not need hospital treatment.
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Despite the freezing conditions more than 13 million people were expected to make a late dash to the shops.
One Shropshire supermarket is to stay open until 7 tonight.
Jim Bradford, store manager of Tesco on Wrekin Retail Park, in Telford, said the decision to stay open for an hour longer was made purely to cope with demand.
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Tracy Hadley, spokeswoman for Telford Shopping Centre, said: "We've had a steady flow of shoppers coming through the doors. The retailers I have spoken to have reported a very good week."
Smaller traders were also enjoying brisk trade. Queues built up outside a butchers in Trench, Telford, yesterday. Simon Badley, of GN Badley & Sons, in Gibbons Road, said customers started arriving from 6.30am even though the shop did not open until 8am.
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Car parks have been full and shops packed in Oswestry. One of the busiest stores has been Sainsbury's which has seen shoppers queueing to get on the car park.
However, many bargain hunters have taken advantage of online sales launched early by big stores including John Lewis, Comet and Halfords.
By Brett Gibbons and Wayne Beese
