Predictions show around 1 in 3 will head to Boxing Day Sales

Predictions show 1 in 3 will hit the sales today Credit: PA

Bargain-hunters are hitting the shops across the region for the traditional Boxing Day sales amid predictions more will be shopping this year.

Around one in three Britons (34%) will go to the festive sales, up from 23% last year, according to Barclaycard.

VoucherCodes and the Centre for Retail Research also predict the Boxing Day sales will attract more than a third of the UK's population, expecting them to spend a record £4.3 billion - a 12% rise on 2016.

Hundreds of shoppers have been queuing since the early hours in central Manchester, Liverpool and the Trafford Centre.