Debenhams is to launch another three-day Christmas Sale, just three days after its last 20 per cent-off promotion and its third in four weeks.

The department store chain will again offer discounts of up to 20 per cent on thousands of lines from tomorrow, including 10 per cent off cosmetics and fragrances, in stores and online. Up to 50 per cent will be slashed off party dresses and women's coats.

It will be the third pre-Christmas Sale by Debenhams. It follows its extended 20 per cent off pre-Christmas Sale, which began last Wednesday. Originally billed as a three-day promotion, it was extended to cover the weekend.

“By extending our credit-crunch beating deals over the weekend we are giving customers exactly what they want,” Debenhams said at the time.

The department store chain held its first pre-Christmas Sale only two weeks earlier. That Sale was also extended by a further two days to cover the weekend.

While the retailer held promotions on certain lines at the same calendar point last year, the discounts are higher and include more lines this year.

Heavy promoting on the high street by retailers including Marks & Spencer, which held it first pre-Christmas Sale in four years at the same time as Debenhams and repeated it two weeks later, has lead to concerns about the lengths retailers are forced to go to tempt shoppers during the downturn.

Last week, management at Debenhams increased their stakes in the retailer after shares fell to a record low.

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