SHOPPERS queued for hours today to snap-up half-price bargains at the summer sale of a top York store.

Bargain hunters began forming a line outside the Next store in Coney Street from 4am. When the doors opened at 7am this morning, the queue had stretched down Coney Street and snaked around into High Ousegate. People leaving the store were laden with bags - many having spent hundreds of pounds inside.

One group of four women sent the tills jangling by forking out almost £1,000 between them. And friends Melanie Paterson and Joanne Cole had travelled from Hull today to be among the first to shop at the store.

They spent more than £400 between them and at least three hours inside.

"It was one hour shopping and two hours just queuing at the till to pay," said mum-of-two Melanie. But it was worth it, said Joanne."I have three kids and a husband and I can shop for all five of us here," she said.

Tourists Valerie Spence and Ann Gregor, visiting York from Fife, Scotland, were delighted with their holiday purchases.

Between them, they'd forked out £250 for skirts, trousers and tops. But clearly, they hadn't quite shopped'til they'd dropped."Where's the other branch?" asked Valerie, seeking directions to Next's second city shop in Stonegate.

Store manager David Caulfield said there were lots of bargains to be had, with most goods half-price.

The store is staying open tonight until 8pm and will be open tomorrow from 11am-5pm. Its Stonegate branch in the city will be open tomorrow from 9am-6pm.

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