Black Friday has begun! First shoppers through the doors in UK but it's a LONG way from the madness in the US
At 5am Tesco opened its doors for deal hunters to snap up Black Friday bargains - but shoppers in Newcastle seemed rather unimpressed
IN DURBAN, THE BLACK FRIDAY FIGHT IS OVER TOILET ROLLS
A mob of bargain hunters riot over cheap TOILET PAPER as Black Friday madness descends on a South African shopping mall.
Phone footage uploaded to YouTube today shows a huge crowd of people swarming over a shop assistant as she hands out large family-size packs of bog roll to impatient customers.
The worker is pushed into the storage container as the crowd press forwards desperate to grab the discounted toiletries.
A man in a blue shirt can be seen trying to hold people back the baying rabble and appearing to call for calm amid the craziness.
There was more lunacy in Durban, where there have been reports of multiple people injured during a stamped at the Pavilion shopping centre.
This year, the UK has taken a far more relaxed approach to Black Friday.
As Tesco - the first shop to begin the shopping extravaganza - opened its doors at 5am in Newcastle, there were indeed people waiting there.
Just not very many, and hardly the hyped-up bargain hunters we've been led to expect from chaotic scenes in the US.
But at shops round the world shoppers were in full flow trying to get their hands on the best deals.
BLACK FRIDAY - USA VERSUS UK
Back in the UK an off-duty police officer was attacked in Leeds city centre this morning during one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
He had reportedly tried to intervene against a shoplifter when the alleged attack happened.
The male officer is said to have suffered from several non-life threatening knife wounds to his neck, face and hands.
A police spokesman said: “The suspect, a 36-year-old man from Leeds, was detained by store staff and has been arrested in connection with the incident.
“The store is currently closed while the scene undergoes forensic examination.
Separately, shops at the Bullring in Birmingham, West Mids, had opened early as staff anticipated a rush of eager shoppers.
But it was so empty that the only place with a queue was budget bakery Greggs.
At the Tesco Extra store in Ponders End, Enfield, north London, a smattering of bargain hunters formed a line outside and appeared in relaxed spirits as they bought televisions, vacuum cleaners and video games.
Meanwhile in Manchester, just a handful of shoppers queued outside a Tesco Extra store.
Some 14 million UK consumers are expected to participate in the global shopping event and will spend a predicted total of £1.96 billion.
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IN DURBAN, THE BLACK FRIDAY FIGHT IS OVER TOILET ROLLS
EARLY SHOPPERS FLOCK FOR BLACK FRIDAY DEALS IN NEWCASTLE
But experts have pointed out that brawls over cut-price televisions will largely be replaced by a "muted" high street turnout, with many predicting increased spending online this year.
British retailers who had put out security guards and opened specially expecting an in-store onslaught were left red-faced this morning after barely anyone turned up.
Almost all of the high street's biggest names are embracing the US import this year, with some such as Tesco and John Lewis offering extended opening hours.
All will be hoping that their websites stand up to the volume of traffic after big names such as Argos and Boots crashed at peak times last year.
Online spending on Black Friday is expected to reach £1 billion, up 16% on last year, while it is anticipated that the majority who opt for the High Street will spend a lower total of around £961 million.
It is expected that consumers will spend £5.8 billion over the four days culminating with Cyber Monday.
But not everyone is joining in, with Ikea and Next traditionally not participating, and Walmart-owned Asda, which takes the credit for introducing Black Friday to the UK in 2013, pulling out for a second year running.
ASDA SPOOFS BLACK FRIDAYWITH STORE MANNEQUIN CHALLENGE
It has instead marked the event with a series of "Mannequin Challenge" videos set in store, the first of which spoofs the footage from its Wembley store in 2014, where customers scrapped over bargain TVs.
Consumer group Which? has already warned shoppers to "do your research" after finding that half of last year's deals were cheaper in the months before and after Black Friday.
Keith Richardson, managing director retail sector at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: "Everything points to Black Friday being as big as ever this year.
"I doubt we'll see images of customers fighting over TVs again, but only because both retailers and consumers are more savvy about Black Friday now.
"For now at least, shoppers have some money to spend. They have seen little if any impact following the outcome of the EU referendum and know that price rises might be around the corner, since the devaluation of the pound.
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