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Shops braced for last-minute rush Last-minute shoppers hit stores
(about 11 hours later)
Retailers around the UK are bracing themselves for a last-minute rush on the final weekend before Christmas. Millions of last-minute Christmas shoppers across the UK are flocking to stores to pick up bargains and food.
As Christmas Day falls on a Monday this year, it is thought many people will have put off their Christmas shopping until the very last minute. Saturday could set a new record for consumer spending, Barclays Bank said. It estimates £2.5bn could be spent and £500m could be withdrawn from ATMs.
Saturday could set a new record for consumer spending, Barclays says. The Scottish Retail Consortium has predicted "a strong surge" in numbers.
The bank estimates £2.5bn could be spent, including purchases on credit and debit cards, and £500m could be withdrawn from cash machines. As Christmas Day falls on a Monday this year, some supermarkets let customers in early on Sunday for "browsing". But church leaders are against the move.
Two of Scotland's main shopping centres expect up to 190,000 customers.
Restrictions
Some 130,000 people were expected to pass through the doors of the St Enoch Centre in Glasgow, while at the Gyle Centre in Edinburgh, bosses predicted they could have as many as 60,000 visitors.
Fiona Moriarty, the director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: "The feedback we've had over the last 24 hours is that there has been a strong surge in the number of shoppers.
"And we expect that to continue tomorrow."
Christmas Eve will see large supermarkets and high street stores able to trade for only a maximum of six hours in England and Wales - from 1300 to 1800 in Northern Ireland - because of Sunday trading restrictions.Christmas Eve will see large supermarkets and high street stores able to trade for only a maximum of six hours in England and Wales - from 1300 to 1800 in Northern Ireland - because of Sunday trading restrictions.
But many of the larger supermarkets will let customers in half an hour before the tills open.
The restrictions do not extend to Scotland, where Sunday trading has been legal for many years.The restrictions do not extend to Scotland, where Sunday trading has been legal for many years.
However, that historical situation could change, as a Christmas Day New Year's Trading Bill (Scotland) - prepared by Karen Whitefield MSP - was introduced in the Scottish Parliament in March this year.However, that historical situation could change, as a Christmas Day New Year's Trading Bill (Scotland) - prepared by Karen Whitefield MSP - was introduced in the Scottish Parliament in March this year.
The cost to family life and stability...outweigh any potential benefits Church of England
Meanwhile, some large supermarkets have defended their decision to let shoppers in early, insisting the extra "browsing time" on Christmas Eve has been introduced to help frantic shoppers rather then to squeeze cash out of them.
But religious bodies have opposed the practice.
A spokesman for The Church of England said: "It is the workers in the shops we are concerned about, especially on Christmas Eve.
"The cost to family life and stability, the health of employees and the contribution of small retailers to the community cohesion outweigh any potential benefits."
Matthew Knowles, from the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "The Sunday trading laws are the only advantage small retailers have left over the larger competitors."
But a spokesman from Asda said they were giving shoppers a "helping hand".
A Sainsbury spokesman said: "I think it is about trying to make it easier for our customers if they only have a limited time to shop."
Slow startSlow start
Latest figures from the Retail FootFall Index show shopper numbers between Monday and Thursday were 22.6% up on the similar period last week. Latest figures from the customer counting organisation FootFall show shopper numbers between Monday and Thursday were 22.6% up on the similar period last week.
Despite the steady increase, year-on-year footfall is still down nearly 11%, it said.Despite the steady increase, year-on-year footfall is still down nearly 11%, it said.
FootFall spokeswoman Natasha Burton said online shopping had taken early festive trade away from the high street.FootFall spokeswoman Natasha Burton said online shopping had taken early festive trade away from the high street.
But she added: "We are seeing footfall levels increase dramatically each day and are expecting that this weekend will significantly boost retailers' fortunes as last-minute shoppers make up for a slow December on the retail front."
Kevin Hawkins, director of the British Retail Consortium, agreed that high street trade had picked up over the past week.Kevin Hawkins, director of the British Retail Consortium, agreed that high street trade had picked up over the past week.
He said: "I think Christmas started a bit slowly over the last couple of weeks but I think this week - partly due to a full trading week and secondly because of the cold weather - has helped enormously."