Shoppers set to flock online in the search for Christmas Day bargains
Traditional Boxing Day sales will be brought forward as retailers look to benefit from shoppers eager to spend their Christmas cash
The sales are due to start early this year with thousands hunting online bargains on Christmas Day.
Retailers are bringing forward Boxing Day discounts to tempt shoppers to part with their Christmas cash after their turkey dinners.
Amazon said it expected record sales and predicted it would be busiest at 8.30pm.
Its EU retail chief Xavier Garambois said: 'The increased availability of home broadband and growth in shopping on tablets and smartphones means it's more convenient than ever to pick up a bargain in the sales.'
Shoppers have already splashed out almost £4million on a busy weekend for the high street. At the height of the spending yesterday stores raked in a record £3.75million a minute.
Experts claimed the spree was down to many people being paid on Friday and tempting discounts of up to 75% at some shops.
But the busiest shopping day of the year will come on 'Mega Monday' today.
The peak spend is expected at 1pm as those still at work pop out for lunch.
Visa Europe reckoned about £1.2billion would be spent on its plastic with 31 million transactions expected today.
British Retail Consortium spokeswoman Mandy Ryan said: 'Much of the last-minute spending rush will spill into Monday, with many now off work.'
Manchester's Arndale Centre welcomed about 400,000 shoppers over the weekend, while 280,000 visited the nearby Trafford Centre. Birmingham's Bullring said it attracted about 330,000.
Meadowhall, Sheffield, which said it would have drawn in 500,000 visitors by today, reported an 'electric' atmosphere on its 'busiest weekend of the year'.
Steven Madeley, director of Cardiff's St David's centre, added: 'We could have set a new Christmas weekend retail record, with an expected 400,000 shoppers.'
John Lewis also reported record weekly sales after it took £164.4 million by Saturday night - a 4.2% increase on last year.
Paula Nickolds, the retail giant's buying director, said: 'It's clear that much of Britain has yet again taken shopping for Christmas right up to the wire.'
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