MILLIONS of Brits hit the shops today after high street stores re-opened following the lifting of the nationwide lockdown.
Shoppers and drinkers are tipped to splash out £1.5 BILLION to help boost the UK’s broke economy on what has been dubbed “Stupor Saturday”.
Malls were rammed with punters keen to catch up with their shopping and grab some huge bargains in the run up to Christmas.
The much-needed boost – which is being seen as a life-line to the economy – comes on the first non-working day since lockdown ended.
More than 300,000 people are tipped to hit London’s West End, 150,000 at Birmingham’s Bullring and 120,000 at Manchester’s Trafford Centre by close of business today.
And pictures from lunchtime show swarms of shoppers out in force and already loaded down with bags.
In Manchester and the capital, people were seen waiting in queues outside stores, including Primark and the soon-to-be-closing Debenhams.
Huge lines also formed outside London’s posh Selfridges store on Oxford Street while Leeds city centre was also mobbed.
However, most shoppers stuck to strict social distancing rules and kept well apart from fellow bargain hunters.
They were among many keen to bag some huge Christmas deals with prices slashed by up to 80 per cent.
Retail chiefs had already urged shoppers to act responsibly — with extended opening hours giving more time and opportunity to socially distance.
They also stressed that every pound spent helps protect jobs and support local communities.
Helen Dickinson, boss of the British Retail Consortium, added: “Retailers are offering discounts, extending opening hours and looking at other ways to create an enjoyable shopping experience.
“Everyone can shop in the knowledge that every purchase we make is a retailer helped, a job protected and a local community supported.”
Experts say the return to high streets will be helped by fatigue at purchasing over the net.
Market research firm Ipsos found shoppers buying online have become “stressed” and are no longer enjoying the experience.
Today also marks Small Business Saturday.
Last year’s event saw a record 18 million people spend £800m at local cafes, pet shops, toy stores and gift shops.
The call to “shop and eat small” is more vital than ever this year.
The country’s pubs were also back bustling with business after taking a battering in recent months.
The Campaign for Real Ale’s Tom Stainer said: “The Great British pub needs the great British public in its hour of need.”
