HUNDREDS of shoppers descended on York city centre today to grab some Boxing Day bargains as the post-Christmas sales began.

The sales followed a disappointing run-up to Christmas, with more shoppers choosing to stay at home than brave the ice and snow.

Clothing retailers across the city slashed their prices by 50, 60 and up to 70 per cent, as an incentive for shoppers, a move which appeared to work well.

A worker at Top Shop, in Piccadilly, said the shop had been busier than expected. “We opened at 10am for browsing, and there was already a massive queue of people waiting out in the cold for the doors to open.

“Today has been a lot better than recently, especially better than last week, and we’re glad it’s been busy. It’s a lot better to come in on Boxing Day and it be busy than to be really quiet.”

Retailers across the region hoped that the chance to buy goods at a discount price before the VAT rises from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent on January 4 would lead to record sales figures, and experts suggested Boxing Day sales totals could reach £300 million across the UK.

A spokeswoman for Debenhams in Davygate said although the store had had quiet periods during the day, the sale had been quite busy: “The sale has gone really well, but the number of shoppers has been about average for a sale.

“We have been busy enough so we’re really pleased with how it’s gone, and we’re hoping the rest of the week will be the same.”

Across the country, many larger stores were only able to open for six hours under Sunday trading laws, and some retailers in York, including Marks & Spencer and Browns in the city centre, were not opening on Boxing Day, and instead start their sales tomorrow.