THE traditional post-Christmas sale season has begun in High Wycombe with shops reporting huge queues outside their stores and mayhem inside.

Leading fashion store Next reported a queue of 300 people outside the store at 6am on Wednesday morning, with other retailers reporting more scenes of chaos.

Phil Lyons, manager of Marks & Spencer in nearby Church Street, said that the store was ready for business at 7.30am on Wednesday, the earliest it had ever opened.

He added: "There was a huge rush with people queuing outside. We have 50 per cent reductions on some items. I would say so far so good.

"We have not been over-run but we are at the level we would like to be and I think we will exceed the estimates for the day's trade."

Other retailers in the town reported similar experiences.

Ruth Farrow, assistant manager at Allsports, Octagon Parade, said that the store had been very busy.

She added: "We have had a three-part sale. Our shoes went on sale last week and clothes and accessories at the end of the week.

"The town has been very busy so as soon as our shutters are up people are queuing outside."

Fashion retailers in the town reported queues of people crowding the pavements, eager to step inside for the bargain goods on offer.

Sue Drage, manager of River Island, Octagon Parade, said that things were going very well and staff were rushed off their feet.

She added: "We opened at 9am this morning and there were queues of people outside."

John James, manager of Burtons, Frogmoor, said: "We are really busy but when we opened at 9 am this morning there weren't huge queues because everyone was next door in Next."