After two days of being cooped up with the relatives, thousands of stressed families found a welcome release in Lakeside shops.

The centre, which many hopeful Boxing Day bargain hunters had found frustratingly closed, was a magnet for all those seeking some retail therapy after the Christmas break.

They came with tokens to spend, money gifts to blow and unwanted presents to exchange, keeping shop workers busy until the shutters came down for close of business.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.