St Stephen's Day sales brings out shoppers at 6am for the best deals

It's that time of year again - when people push aside the remnants of the selection box and walk off the Christmas Day excesses by barrelling around the St Stephen's Day sales.

With retail watchdogs forecasting an improved festive period for the sector compared with last year, the scene was set for the traditional images of throngs of bargain-hungry shoppers pouring into department stores at the stroke of 9am.