There was no sign of the supposed downturn in the economy at the Lakeside Shopping Centre this Christmas.
The West Thurrock complex was buzzing yesterday - the first day after the festive break - with more than 2,500 cars parked there by 5am and the car parks brimming two hours later as the January sales started in full force.
With some stores opening their doors at 6am, dedicated sale-goers were in store and queuing three hours earlier still.
And shopkeepers were reporting record sales in the weeks leading up to the holiday.
Management at the complex took a straw poll of retailers which showed a 12.5 per cent increase in sales in the seasonal period compared to 2000 with the big Christmas hits this year being DVD players.
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Published Friday December 28, 2001
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