100,000 expected to flock to Merry Hill for their busiest Boxing Day sales ever

Centre bosses say they are preparing for a mammoth shopping day with thousands of people wasting no time following the Christmas festivities to pick up a bargain.

Stores including Next, Debenhams and M&S will slash the pre-Christmas day prices up to 70 per cent as part of the annual event, while the centre will put on extra staff and there will be a police presence to help deal with the rush.

The centre, which had more than 100,000 shoppers on a day in the Christmas run-up, will open at 8am, but Next will open at 6am and Debenhams at 7am.

As well as the department stores, sales are expected at DFS, Asda and Currys PC World on the surrounding retail park.

The predicted surge in visitors comes as the shopping centre marks it 25th birthday.

Gavin Prior, general manager at Merry Hill, said: "The success of Boxing Day sales grows year on year without a shadow of a doubt.

"Traditionally the days in the run up to Christmas are busiest, but we are seeing Boxing Day catch up in terms of shopper numbers - we expect there to be more than 100,000 visitors on the day.

"It is a huge sale day and a chance, post Christmas, to get out and shop for some great deals."

Long queues are expected ahead of store openings, with more than 2,000 people lining up outside Next in previous years.

To deal with the surge, the centre is employing extra staff to manage the car park and security guards. There will also be police stationed at the centre.

A similar mammoth day of business is expected at other centres across the borough.

Kelley Dyas, manager of The Ryemarket shopping centre in Stourbridge, said: "Generally speaking, the number of shoppers and their spend in the build-up to Christmas has been very similar to last year.

"There has been a good Christmas buzz in and around the centre and the Christmas fair was highly successful, attracting record crowds."

Chairman of Halesowen Chamber of Commerce, Wayne Edwards, said: "I have been up and down the town speaking to shoppers and customers alike and it is all positive."

It is hoped the success of shops in the borough will have a positive effect on the region overall.

Ninder Johal from the Black Country Chamber of Commerce said: "Consumer confidence is definitely on the up with the falling rates of inflation meaning people have more money in their back pockets.

"This is against the backdrop of a growth in GDP means we can expect a bumper Christmas this year which is fantastic."