70pc off as Boxing Day sales start now

SHOPPERS looking for last-minute Christmas gifts will be besieged with bargains, with many retailers already starting their “Boxing Day” sales.

Debenhams is reducing prices online tomorrow – three days ahead of its stores.

The chain is cutting prices of “thousands of items” with up to 50 per cent off beauty, home, fashion, electricals and toys.

Other retailers have already reduced price tags to boost ailing profits. Matlan and Asos are offering up to

50 per cent off while Missguided and Boohoo are discounting by up to 70 per cent.

New Look and Topshop both have up to 60 per cent off.

Accountancy firm Deloitte says it expects the average discount across the market to rise to a record 48 per cent by Christmas Eve.

Retailers have blamed unseasonably warm weather for reduced spending by shoppers, with Brexit uncertainty putting people off too. Asos shares plunged by 36 per cent earlier this week as the online retail giant issued a profit warning.

However shopping centre owner Intu said shoppers will flock due to the weekend factor.

Operations director Gordon McKinnon said: “Crucially Christmas is on a Tuesday this year. So with the weekend in the way, there’s always the risk that deliveries won’t turn up in time.”