THE New Year sales have got off to a cracking start in York - despite fears that economic gloom is on the way.

High street giants in the city have all reported booming trade in the January sales, and are confident the trend will continue.

So despite the fear of recession, following a string of world tragedies last year, shoppers haven't yet put away their hard-earned cash in fear of leaner times ahead.

At Marks and Spencers, in Pavement, sales were said to be well up on expected levels. A spokeswoman said: "We are doing really well. Trading has been very brisk and we are well up on last year.

"We had planned for sales to be bigger and better but we are still fairly surprised by our success."

At Fenwicks, one of York's biggest department stores, January trading was also said to be encouraging. A spokesman revealed: "It is all going very well. We are very pleased with the numbers of people on the street.

"We feel that we are getting our fair share of these numbers and are optimistic about the rest of the January sales period."

Clothes and household items are not the only items being snapped up by sale-frenzied shoppers. At HMV, in Coney Street, a Clearout sale has brought in plenty of bargain hunters.

"We are doing quite well. Our Clearout sale has been well received and has brought a lot of people into the store," a spokesman said.

Meanwhile, shoppers have also been out in force at the McArthurGlen designer outlet.

More than 345,000 flocked to the York centre over the Christmas period - 28 per cent more than during the same period last year.

Discounts of up to 50 per cent were being offered by some retailers at the fashion outlet.

Centre manager Norma Middlemiss said: "Christmas shoppers have given our expanded centre the seal of approval.

"Clearance, which continues until mid-January, has been an added attraction to visitors who can take advantage of discounts of up to 70 per cent in most stores. It's an encouraging start to 2002."

Updated: 08:30 Monday, January 07, 2002