Bargain-hunters struggled to get into the car parks in busy towns and city centres on Friday - the first day of the sales for most high street retailers.

In Cardiff, the Next clothing store in Queen Street opened its doors at 0500 GMT to let in waiting shoppers.

As soon as we opened the doors, they all rushed in Peter Butt, David Morgan's store

Elsewhere in the city, St David's Centre manager Glyn Cluthers said some places were "absolutely chaotic".

He also said the run-up to Christmas had been a great success, with 1m visitors a week visiting the city's shops.

One of Cardiff's oldest department stores, David Morgan's, also began doing brisk trade early on.

Still spending

"It was amazing - it was just like the old days," said the store's chief executive, Peter Butt.

"People were queueing in the street and as soon as we opened the doors, they all rushed in."

In Swansea, shoppers were reported to have kept on spending right up until the last hours of Christmas Eve.

Quadrant centre manager Alan Wallace said: "It has been very busy right through December, but Christmas Eve was much busier than expected.

"It normally tapers off during the day but this year it kept going to the end.

"Retailers are pleased," he said.

In Bridgend, the sales started early with the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet Park opening on Boxing Day.

A spokesman said the numbers of shoppers visiting had been "absolutely incredible".

Traffic in and out of the out-of-town shopping centre had increased by 30% compared with Boxing Day last year and remained busy on Friday.