A WOMAN was taken to hospital after fainting as the traditional sales rush got under way at major stores in East Lancashire.

Early morning bargain hunters flocked into town centres to take advantage of offers from retailers, looking to end the year with booming returns.

Although some stores had begun putting up sale signs last week, most waited for the traditional Boxing Day start.

At Next in Blackburn, queues formed from the early hours. Shop bosses operated a strict one in, one out policy as the crowds outside swelled.

The Hine family from Darwen arrived outside the shop at 7am for their spree.

Mum Veronica, 50 of Pole Lane, was delighted with her haul which included a £69 coat reduced to £22.

Daughters Donna, 25, of Sarah Street, and Louise, of Priory Grange, helped bring the total family spend up to more than £400 during their hour and a half shop!

The sales came after traders had reported a steady build-up to Christmas. Most said it was an improvement on last year.

A slow year on the High Street prompted fears of a poor return over the festive period. But the week before Christmas saw the tills jingling!

"Christmas has been getting later every year and 1999 has continued that pattern," said Rita Wakeley of Blackburn & District Chamber of Trade. "People seem more then ever to be leaving their shopping to the last minute but many of our members say that overall it has been a steady run-up. They are quite happy with how things have gone.

"The number of people coming out shopping is definitely up on last year but that doesn't always mean they're all spending!"

At Tesco's 24 hour store in Hill Street, Blackburn many people have done their food shopping in the early hours of the morning.

"I started at 5.45am on Christmas Eve. Usually there's hardly anyone around at that time but we had quite a few early birds," said employee Vicky Entwhistle.

Thursday of Christmas week was the busiest day for staff at the store. "Queues were six deep at the check-outs and the car park was jammed solid," Vicky added.

Some traders reckon that the looming millennium and extra costs involved in celebrating it is having an impact.

"Our experience so far is that people are putting off big purchases until after the millennium," said Peter Hobkirk, of Hobkirk's sewing machines on Darwen Street.

And the traditional post-Christmas sales have been moving forward ever year.

Although most stores launched their sales on Boxing Day or today, some started last week to catch pre-Christmas gift hunters.

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