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N-ice day for retail therapy

Dec 20 2009 Sunday Sun

CHRISTMAS shoppers didn’t let the cold snap put them off grabbing some last minute gifts.

Traders in the region reported one of the busiest days so far this year as tens of thousands of shoppers hit the high streets and malls on the final shopping Saturday before Christmas.

Trade is also expected to be brisk today with retail staff expecting the tills to be jingling all day.

Fun in the snow

One of the busiest places in the north was Gateshead’s Metrocentre where bargain hunters flocked knowing full well they would be protected from whatever the worst of the weather could throw at them.

Metrocentre marketing manager Karen Carr said: “Trade started a little bit slowly on Saturday as people took longer to get here after clearing ice from their cars, but it soon picked up.

“Some traders have already reported hitting their targets for December and have said that Saturday has been hectic for them.

“There has been increased sales and we expect every day left between now and Christmas to be just as busy.”

Plunging temperatures are expected to continue for the next few days with more snow on the way.

Forecasters say that overnight temperatures could plummet to as low as minus 9 degrees centigrade on Monday and Tuesday

Met Office forecaster, Andrew Sibley, said the arctic conditions were likely to persist, with heavy snowfall on its way.

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