CHRISTMAS bargain hunters stampeded into Handforth Dean last Thursday as retail giants Marks and Spencer launched a one-day snap sale with 20 per cent slashed off clothing and homeware.

Shoppers intent on making the most of the festive free-for-all queued patiently to get into the store that decided to stay open until midnight as an added goodwill gesture to accommodate the unexpected frenzy.

One customer said: "It was amazing. There were streams of people queuing out through the doors. It wasn’t for me, but I was able to do my shopping in the food hall without any problem. There were no bargains there and it was virtually empty. Everybody was elsewhere grabbing clothes from the rails."

Prices plummeted for just 24 hours and M&S, both at Handforth Dean and surrounding stores, reported brisk trade with long – but good humoured – queues reported at cash tills.

It was the largest one-day sale since the Christmas Spectacular in 2004. And M&S executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose said the sale appealed to shoppers. "It seems to have touched the spot," he said. "It was an absolute riot."

As winter struck harshly and with colder spells forecast, female shoppers were taking advantage of the offer to choose their winter coats and stock up on jumpers and possibly buy gifts for friends and family.

With increasing numbers of job losses and the current global economic climate, there have been fears on the high street of a downturn in consumer spending in the run-up to Christmas.

But judging by the siege at M&S at Handforth Dean there was little sign of brutal budgeting. The tempation was simply too hard to resist.

Marks and Spencer said the promotion was a response to shoppers telling them they needed to tighten their belts. But analyst Freddie George has said the M&S sale was a "clear sign that sales are well behind budget" as it enters the festive season.

He said: "Christmas 2008 has the feel of being the worst retailing Christmas for many years – more for the higher level of discount activity.

EVERY little helps a lot. Even millionaire tycoon WAG Colleen Rooney had her eye on the bargains last week as she was seen shopping at Tesco’s at Handforth Dean to prove that no one is immune to the credit crunch.

Colleen, 22, who lives in Prestbury with Manchester United star Wayne, and who was formerly the fashion face of rival Asda, was casually dressed as she popped into the local supermarket, pretty much unnoticed, to pick up some grocery deals.