Bargain hunting

Queues formed from 3.30am for the start of the Next sale, with the Coney Street store opening its doors at 5am and the Stonegate and Monks Cross outlets following at 6am.

With slashed prices promised to early shoppers small groups of heavily-burdened bargain hunters could be seen making their way home from the stores.

Sue James, from York, who got there at about 4am, was impressed with the children's items, while Karen Pape, from Heslington, York, agreed that the children's and women's sections were strong, but was less impressed with the home goods.

Debra Thompson and Michelle Graham from Osbaldwick, York, said they had been queuing in Coney Street from about 4.30am. They thought the women's section was "really good".

Leaving the Stonegate store were Kathleen O'Hagan, from The Mount, York, and Wendy Evans, from Rawcliffe, York, who said the fleeces were the pick of the bargains as far they were concerned.

Lee Frost, Andrew Botham and Nick Addis, all from Huntington, York, went to both the city centre stores in search of bargains. They prepared in advance by checking out yesterday what would be the best in the sale today, and they felt there was plenty on offer for the discerning man.

Mother-of-six Joanne Bedda, of Holgate, York, reckoned she had saved £250 by snapping up half-price offers.

Andrew Knaggs, manager of the Stonegate store, said people had been queuing half way down the street before they opened. "We are extremely busy," he said. "The tills were singing."

An equally happy Mike Robinson, manager of the Coney Street store, said the queue there had stretched past Woolworths.

"I'm very pleased. We have had thousands through the doors," he added.

TOP: PASSION FOR FASHION: From left, Louise Mansfield, Nadine Dryden and his sister Cassie, all from Scarborough, who started queuing outside the Next store at Monks Cross, York, at 3.30am today

BOTTOM: The queue outside the Next store in Stonegate, York, at 6am today