7:40am Wednesday 23rd December 2009
BOLTON’S shops were bracing themselves for a last-minute shopping blitz — despite the heavy snow and plummeting temperatures.
Last weekend was the busiest of the year for the nation’s shops but retail bosses in the town are gearing themselves up for a rush on purchases over the next two days.
The town centre has been packed for the last few days with shoppers eager to snap up last minute presents.
Student nurse Sophie Pollard, from Manchester, was hoping to avoid the crowds in her home city by doing her Christmas shopping in the Market Place, which will be open until 8pm tonight and until 5pm tomorrow.
She said: “It is still busy here but it’s much more relaxed. I have left it quite late this year but Manchester would have been unbearable and Bolton has the same sort of shops and it’s a better experience.”
Middlebrook retail park has been busy with last-minute shoppers over the last few days.
Heather Crank-Ingham, from the centre, said: “People have been braving the weather and the traders are saying there has been a good response to the late-night shopping.
“We are open right up until Christmas Eve so we are expecting a lot more people to come and make their last-minute purchases.”
Most shops at Middlebrook are open until at least 9pm today and will be open until 5pm tomorrow, Christmas Eve.
The Marks and Spencer store will be open until midnight tonight.
The chain’s town centre store is open from 7am today and tomorrow but will close at 8pm and 5pm respectively.
Town centre department store Debenhams is open until 9pm tonight and will close at 6pm tomorrow.
Rival department store Whitakers in Deansgate will be open until 8pm tonight and close at 4.30pm tomorrow.
Shoppers have also been heading to Crompton Place shopping centre in Bolton.
Manager Malcolm Angus said: “Traders are saying that it has been good and when I was down on the floor earlier it was very busy. People have been braving the weather and we expect that will continue until Christmas Eve.”
Shops in Crompton Place are open until 8pm tonight and until around 5.30pm on Christmas Eve, although some stores may close earlier.
Bolton Market in Ashburner Street is also open all week, from 8am, giving shoppers the chance to snap up fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and fish and cards and presents — despite disruption caused by a fire.
Bolton Council, which operates the market, said stalls were busy.
Shopper Joan Armstrong, from Great Lever, said: “I usually get most of my fruit, meat and fresh goods from the supermarket but they are just a nightmare at this time of year.
“People seem a lot more patient in the market and at least you are guaranteed a bit of Christmas cheer from the stallholders.”
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