The post-Christmas Sales season has kicked off with huge discounts on offer, as retailers compete for shrinking disposable income and try to clear excess stock.

Experts said that shoppers were in line for real bargains as retailers continue to struggle. "With customers’ short on spare cash and nervous about how their finances will shape up in the new year, it’ll be a bumper January sales with bargains to be had as stores compete to tempt customers in," said British Retail Consortium director-general Kevin Hawkins.

"Retailers that haven’t done the business they expected to before Christmas will be very keen to cut their losses and shift whatever seasonal stock they’ve been left with."

Those retailers that kicked off their Sales in stores on Boxing Day reported strong trading.

Queues formed outside stores in London and major cities and 500,000 shoppers ventured into the West End.

Marks & Spencer and Debenhams are among the many high street retailers offering discounts of as much as 70 per cent. Furniture retailers are also offering particularly heavy discounts as they try to turn things around after a dreadful season.

Many retailers started their Sales online on Christmas Day this year. According to internet monitor IMRG, an estimated 3.6 million people went online to look for bargains on Christmas Day and spent about£52 million.

Marks & Spencer and DSGi were among those making discounts available online on Christmas Day, despite criticism from religious groups.

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