THOUSANDS of Hampshire shoppers took the sales to pick up the purchases that Santa forgot.

Boxing Day is traditionally one of the biggest retail sale days on the calendar.

For many, it is a chance to pick up a bargain and for others an opportunity to spend Christmas cash but with some of the biggest brands slashing their prices by as much a 70%.

Hampshire residents took to shopping centres all over the south coast the day after Christmas.

This year, thousands of shoppers descended on West Quay, in search of reduced-rate electronics, fashion and homewares.

Some of the most extreme bargain hunters began queuing before 3am outside Next in the city centre, to be the first in line for discounts.

Similarly, in Whiteley shoppers wore their warm winter wear and waited outside for more than two hours to be the first into their Next branch.

Mujo Malaji, a car valet from Redbridge, came out with this partner and their 20-month-year-old daughter to tackle the Next sale.

“We came out at 11 o’clock and we still managed to get everything we wanted. It was really busy in the store but we got lots of stuff for our daughter,” he said.

Mr Malaji said that he queued in the line for more than twenty minutes but said it was worth it for the bargains.

“We do this every year. We will be back next year as well,” said the father.

More than a hundred shoppers came through Westquay’s doors before 6am and thousands entered throughout the day.

Lesley Hurst, a 55-year-old student from Portsmouth, said: “I know where I want to go and what I need to get, which makes it easier. It has been really busy, but there is a more diverse range of shops in Southampton.”

The average discount across the centre was 50 per cent with some retailers offering up to 70 per cent off on selected lines.

Andy Collyer, general manager at West Quay said: "Boxing Day is always one of our busiest days of the year and we were delighted to welcome thousands of shoppers hoping to bag a bargain on the official start of the post-Christmas sales with queues from 3am this morning.

"There are some fantastic offers available and no doubt the shoppers of Southampton indulging in some retail therapy will be picking up some brilliant bargains and grabbing a bite in one of our many newly opened restaurants."