Black Friday queues calm despite record £8 billion spend expected

Black Friday could kick off the biggest ever weekend of shopping in the UK with bargain hunters predicted to spend almost £8 billion.

Some £2.6 billion is expected to parted with on Friday alone despite mad rushes and queues associated with the event failing to materialise.

High street stores in central London appeared quiet, with few signs of the throng witnessed in previous years.

Black Friday hit the headlines in 2014 after shoppers squashed and fought each other for discounted goods across the capital.

But those scenes have not been repeated so far, despite some £7.8 billion anticipated to be spent by the close of play on Monday.

Queues have not been as large as anticipated. Credit: PA

If predictions are correct then this year's Black Friday takings will be up 7% on last year.

Meanwhile £7.8 billion worth of spending would represent the biggest ever weekend of shopping in the UK.

Several big name chains have extended their opening hours, including John Lewis, Game, Tesco and Argos.

But others such as Harrods, Marks and Spencer, Ikea and Primark have opted out of Black Friday.

A survey by PwC estimated that online is overtaking in-store shopping on Black Friday in every age group.

Ian Geddes, head of retail at Deloitte, said: "We expect to see another record year for Black Friday, with UK online sales likely to easily exceed last year's £1.23 billion record on the day itself."