IN PICTURES: Thousands descend on shops for Boxing Day sales

Bargain hunters queued at Telford Shopping Centre from 4am, with more than 250 shoppers outside Next by the time the shop opened its doors at 6am.

Shops opening at the centre between 6.30am and 8am included House of Fraser, Debenhams, Boots and Primark.

Some stores, such as Sports Direct, had slashed prices by up to 80 per cent.

Around 30 shoppers were also stood in a queue outside Lush when the shop opened its doors at 9am.

Admin worker Denise Roberts got up early with her 15-year-old daughter Ella to visit the store.

The 45-year-old, of Much Wenlock, said: "We got here at about 7.55am and we came really to go to Lush.

"We were stood in a queue for about an hour. It's usually a really good atmosphere to come out shopping on Boxing Day. I spent £50 in Lush but it's worth double that."

Emma Pawlowski, aged 27, and her husband Carl Pawlowski, aged 39, of New Street, Wem, were shopping for children's clothes in Next.

Mrs Pawlowski said: "You get more for your money in the sales.

"We come every year. It saves a fortune."

Sales assistant in Game, Paddy Jones, said Boxing Day trading had improved this year.

The 26-year-old said: "This year seems to be a lot better than last year.

"The customers this year seem a lot happier. We did really well on Christmas Eve as well. It was manic."

Sports Direct manager Karl Moore said the store had also been open since 6am on Boxing Day.

The 50-year-old said: "It has been steady. This has been our second year in the centre and we have done better this year."

H&M had also been offering discounts of up to 70 per cent, while Debenhams had items that were up to half price.

Chris Jones, centre director for Telford Shopping Centre, said: "Initial feedback suggests the most popular items for those out to bag a Boxing Day bargain were homeware, clothing and toiletries.

"While we'll not see a complete picture until the end of the week when footfall figures are released, we are optimistic that both footfall and sales will at least match last year's figures."

Shrewsbury's Pride Hill, Darwin and Riverside centres also welcomed crowds of people through the doors on Saturday.

Millions were expected to hit the high street on Boxing Day and spend as much as £3.74 billion in the most hotly-anticipated shopping day of the year.