BURNLEY is buzzing with sales fever - it's official!

The sales started for most shops on Boxing Day and since then the shops have been full of bargain hunters.

Peter Law is the manager of Millets, the camping equipment store in St James Street.

Their sale started on December 27 and since then, they have been busy.

He said: "It is going very well. We have had lots of bits and bats being sold and people are looking for a bargain.

"We have a few good offers. This is the second best sale we have put on and we have a lot of bargains."

Neil Kinder, owner of a record and music shop in Hall Street, said: "It has been pretty good.

"We were busy before Christmas and the other day was really busy. Overall it has been a lot busier than last year, definitely.

"I haven't had anyone coming in without buying anything."

Ian Brockbank, manager of Badger Books in Keirby Walk, said: "December has been a very good month.

"The week before Christmas we did a very brisk trade. It usually gets busier in January when people start coming in with their book tokens."

Ian Benn, one of the shareholders of Benn's Toys in St James Street, said: "We are reasonably busy. Since September 11 our trade has gradually declined, but it hasn't been as bad as we predicted."

Last year the shop sold over 400 sledges. The snow hasn't appeared yet this year, but trade has still been good.

Adris Ahmed, who runs the Illusions 2 clothing stall in the market hall, said: "It's been going well, better than we expected.

"Christmas was about the same as usual, but sales are now up. People want anything that has money knocked off it." Yseen Patel, owner of Bonafide menswear shop in Keirby Walk said his shop has been doing a brisk trade even though his sale has not yet started. Yseen is a traditionalist and is sticking to his January sales date.

He said: "It's been alright. It has not been hectic, because I haven't started my sale yet, but I've had plenty of people in because my stock is good. New Year is the best time for a sale."

Burnley Chamber of Trade secretary Rita Walsh commented: "I think it has been a bumper Christmas for local shops.

"I think people have gone to town, literally, and are still going.

"I was in Burnley town centre yesterday and it was absolutely heaving. There was not a single space to park."

She added: "It has gone very well indeed for the traders. Why is more difficult to say. There had been a perception it would be a cautious time spending wise but we have seen a different reaction and people have been out to spend, spend, spend."