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.

More than 650,000 people a week visited the centre during peak periods, spending an average of £125 per visit with footfall up six per cent in November and December and 3.5 per cent up on the year as a whole.

A spokesman for the centre added that its 10am to 10pm opening hours - the only shopping centre in the country to do so - was also proving popular with shoppers with more and more coming during the evening period.

Over the year, 24m people visited Lakeside.

Published Friday December 28, 2001