The Boxing Day sales - in pictures

The queue at Selfridges on Oxford Street in London Photograph: Martin Godwin/Martin Godwin for The Guardian

A mad scramble for perfume by bargain-hunters in Selfridges, London Photograph: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA

A shop assistant puts a Chanel bag on display as customers queue outside Selfridges Photograph: Ray Tang/Rex Features

Oxford street crowds in London Photograph: Martin Godwin/Martin Godwin for The Guardian

Customers scramble for designer handbags in Selfridges on Oxford Street Photograph: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA

Shoppers in front of a huge sale hoarding in London Photograph: Martin Godwin/Martin Godwin

Early morning customers start the queue outside Marks and Spencers in Oxford Street Photograph: Ray Tang/Rex Features

Montana Buckley and Thomas Calladine on Oxford Street Photograph: Martin Godwin/Martin Godwin for The Guardian

A butler serves coffee as shoppers queue for the Boxing Day sales at Harrods in Knightsbridge Photograph: Neil Hall/Reuters

Shoppers queue in blankets for the Boxing Day sale at Harrods Photograph: Neil Hall/Reuters

People queue round the block in anticipation of the Boxing Day sales at Selfridges Photograph: Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images

Shoppers look for bargains in Selfridges Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

A weary shopper grabs bargains at the Highcross shopping centre in Leicester Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

Shoppers with their haul on Oxford Street Photograph: Martin Godwin/Martin Godwin for The Guardian

A baby is almost engulfed in clothes at the Highcross shopping centre, Leicester Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

Customers crowd outside Zara in Oxford Street Photograph: Ray Tang/Rex Features/Rex Features

Performers entertain the shoppers queuing at Harrods in the Boxing Day cold Photograph: Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images

Shoppers in the queue for Harrods Photograph: Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images

Shoppers with bags full of clothes at the Highcross shopping centre in Leicester Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA