SHOPPERS crammed the high streets and shopping centres in East Yorkshire this weekend looking to bag a bargain in one of the busiest weekends before Christmas.
Stores were deluged with people trying to find that perfect gift.
Nationally, around nine million people were thought to have been out present-hunting on Saturday alone, in what forecasters say was due to be the busiest shopping weekend before Christmas.
However, in Hull, next weekend is forecast to be the city's busiest shopping day - dubbed 'shoppergeddon' as schools break up, people finish work for Christmas and deadlines for ordering online pass by.
Jim Harris, manager of St Stephen's Shopping Centre, which has more than 50 stores, said: "This has been a very good weekend.
"And I think it is going to get even better. I think in Hull it will peak next weekend so there is still more to come.
"Shoppers at say Meadowhall, York and Leeds tend to see the busiest time about now, but for us in Hull, shopping tends to be up towards Christmas."
Mr Harris said over the weekend around 86,000 people visited the Ferensway centre, up 10 per cent on the same time this year.
He expects figures to rise a further 10 per cent next weekend as people hunt for their final gifts as well as take advantage of huge discounts in stores.
He said: "There are some cracking bargains out there."
