Rush is utter bedlam

Angry shoppers vowed never to return to sales in the Black Country today as thousands of people queued, pushed and shoved at dawn to find a bargain.

There were reports from shoppers of "utter bedlam" at chains of clothing giant Next with queues outside one store reaching an estimated 750 people by 5am.

Stores in the region opened early to tempt as many people as possible into buying clothes and electrical goods.

It comes as fears grow that the country is entering a deep recession.

A traditional last-minute rush for gifts and heavy discounting in the run-up to Christmas had raised hopes that consumer spending might hold up through the festive season, even though the country is entering its first recession since the early 1990s.

At the Merry Hill Centre in Dudley queues snaked from the entrance as far back as Marks & Spencer on the upper mall while more gathered downstairs. Shoppers had been allowed into the centre at 2am.

Sarah Ball of Bridgnorth was first in line with her three friends. The 28-year-old mother-of-four said: "It has been utter bedlam. I came here for children's clothes. It's ridiculous. There was so much pushing and shoving. We won't be coming back here after that experience."

Next at St John's Retail Park, Wolverhampton, opened at 5am and allowed in hundreds of people, some who had been queuing since midnight when the temperature was -1C, to buy clothes and furniture at up to 50 per cent off.

Asda, in George Street, Walsall, opened at 8am, with a steady flow of customers through the doors.

British Retail Consortium director general Stephen Robertson said: "Despite a last-minute surge, it's becoming clear that overall this has been a poor Christmas for retailers." Despite the gloomy predictions there have been success stories. Around 65 new workers have been taken on by bosses at the relaunched Currys in Wednesbury.