TRADERS have reported a strong start to the post-Christmas sales as thousands of shoppers rushed to the shops yesterday.

Some shops in the Potteries Shopping Centre had slashed their prices by up to 90 per cent.

Debenhams was the first store to open at 7am, with the majority of retailers opening between 10am and 5pm.

Many stores reported having large queues of people waiting outside for them to open.

And people were expected to be queuing from 3am today for the Next sale, with more than 50 per cent off some items.

Shopping centre spokesman Sandrine Eglizeaud said: "I think the credit crunch has meant a lot of people have been waiting for the sales to start to see what bargains they can pick up.

"The centre was extremely busy all through Boxing Day, despite Stoke City playing at home to Manchester United and it being shown on live television.

"By 9am we had big queues of people waiting outside shops which were not due to open for another hour.

"The post Christmas sales are usually the biggest of the year and we are expecting them to be even busier this year."

Daniel Jones, manager at Sports Direct, said shoppers were banging on the shutters before the store opened at 10am yesterday.

He said: "We're expecting to take more than £10,000 on Boxing Day and we're already nearly £14,000 ahead of our target for this week alone.

"We were really busy when we opened in the morning and we've had a good stream of customers throughout the day."

Mark Dunning, supervisor at HMV, said the store had been quieter than normal in the run up to Christmas, but was hoping trade would pick up in the sales.

He said: "I think the majority of people have been waiting for the sales to start.

"Money is tight for a lot of people and shoppers have been waiting to find the best bargains.

"We've been a little quieter this Christmas than in other years but trade did pick up quite a bit in the run up to Christmas Day.

"I think the shops will remain busy until the sales are over, but it's going to be interesting to see how busy we remain going into February and March."

Lynsey Burrows, manager at JD Sports, said business was going well yesterday.

She said: "It was like a stampede when we opened up.

"We've been quieter this Christmas but I think that's down to people just waiting for the sales to start.

"We've been busy today and we're hoping that will continue through into the New Year."

Thousands more shoppers are expected through the doors of Hanley's Potteries Shopping Centre again today for the Next sale, which starts at 5am until 7pm.

And outside of the shopping centre, the Marks & Spencer sale starts at 6am.

Gemma Saunders, aged 25, of Bolton Street, Birches Head, was one of the shoppers battling the crowds in the Potteries Shopping Centre yesterday.

She said: "I got here just after the shops opened and it was packed.

"A lot of people seem to have waited to see what bargains they can pick up in the sales.

"I've bought my son a toy that had been reduced by £20 in Boots which I'm happy with."