Early bird bargain hunters started queuing at 2am for start of the Next summer sale at a shopping centre in Wrexham.
By the time the staff of Next were ready to throw open the doors for the 5am start more than 600 people had formed a line that snaked right around Eagles Meadow.
At the head of the queue were Wrexham pair Tiffany Burgess and Nicola Plant who even brought camping chairs to sit on as they waited for the store to open.
Pregnant Nicola, who is expecting her baby in a little over a fortnight, says she wanted to stock up on baby and children’s clothes.
She said: “We got here just before 2am and was surprised to be first in the queue. We brought camping chairs along to make it a bit comfier.”
Tiffany added: “I love the Next sale but have never managed to be first in the queue before. It has been a long night but at least we will get first chance of the bargains.”
First to emerge from the packed store clutching a Next carrier bag was Ian Williams, an advisor with Age Concern North East Wales, who managed to snap up a new suit for his October wedding.
Ian, of Summerhill, said: “I got here at 4.45am and was quite a bit down the queue. However, I knew exactly what I wanted, my wedding suit, and managed to get it saving a fortune in the process. I am delighted.”
First woman to fight her way to the tills and emerge carrying a bulging bag of children’s clothes was account assistant Rhian Millington, of Acton.
She said: “I arrived at 4.30am and was shocked by the size of the queue. I wanted to stock up on baby clothes for my daughter, Keona-May who is 10 months old.
“It was certainly worth getting up early for and I’m made-up with the bargains I have got.”
Sharon Shaughnessy, of Little Acton,also managed to grab more than a few bargains.
She said: “It’s been a bit of a crush but I managed to get what I came for which was clothes for my nine-year-old daughter, Hannah, and myself, I am very pleased.”
Lisa Williams, of Weston Rhyn, Chirk, was accompanied by her bargain-hunting daughter, Ellie, seven.
Lisa said: “Ellie insists on coming with me, she loves the buzz of the sales. We were shopping for clothes for Ellie, her sisters Elisha and Chloe, who are five and three, and her brother, Peter, who is almost one.
“We got here at 4.30am and were quite a way down the queue but we got what we came for which is brilliant.”
Friends Natalie Sheil, of Chirk, Hannah Davies, of Ruabon and Amie Tekeian, of Wrexham emerged from Next loaded down with bags crammed full of bargains.
Hairdresser Natalie says she was shopping for clothes for her two boys, Jayden, four, and Zac, 15 months.
She said: “We arrived at about 3.45am and had quite a good laugh while we queued. I spent about £150 but got some real bargains. I’m really pleased even if I am tired out!”
Hannah, who works as a dental nurse along with Aimee at a Ruabon practice, says she spent £130 but got just what she needed.
She said: “I was shopping for clothes for my two sons, Oliver, four, and Louie, 18 months.
“I’m delighted with what I managed to get and it was certainly worth the early start even if I feel dreadful. I can’t believe I came out without any make-up on!”
Amie, who spent more than £330, says she now won’t need to buy any clothes for her son, Bradley, for more than six months.
She said: “It’s definitely worth it, no doubt about it. I won’t need to shop for clothes for my son now until after Christmas. Probably when Next have their big sale which usually starts on Boxing Day.
“It might sound like a lot to spend but it’s actually a better, and more economical, way of doing things. I’m thrilled at what I managed to get and there were some real bargains. It was certainly worth the early start.”
And as Natalie, Hannah and Aimee sat on an Eagles Meadow seat to take a break and compare the bargains they had bought, a steady stream of late comers continued to file into the Eagles Meadow store.
Kevin Critchley, the manager of Eagles Meadow, revealed that business was also brisk at other stores in the centre during the day.
He said: “We have some very happy shoppers – a lot of people have saved themselves hundreds of pounds so it really was worth the effort.
“But those who did not get up before the crack of dawn need not worry – there are plenty of bargains left.”
