Thousands of shoppers have been flocking to the stores in Chelmsford for what could be one of the busiest January sales.
On Monday, roads around the town were gridlocked, with cars spilling out from the car parks.
Manager of the Meadows shopping centre, Malcolm Tilsed, said: "It has been absolutely heaving down here. Foot fall is definitely up on last year by about three or four per cent. In three days we had more than 100,000 people through the doors of the centre.
Brian Pawsey, chairman of the Moulsham Street Traders Association, said it had been a very good Christmas overall for stores
"It's been excellent for the traders in Moulsham Street. A lot of people have been parking in Moulsham Street, which has meant they pop into the shops, bars or restaurants.
Mick McDonagh, manager of the High Chelmer, agreed that despite there being a slight pre-Christmas lethargy, post and pre-Christmas figures showed it had been better than most years.
Published Friday January 2, 2004
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