St Stephen, patron saint of the sales!

CHRISTMAS sales start in earnest on St Stephen’s Day – but many big stores have already reduced prices to bring shoppers through their doors.

Responding to the massive rise in online shopping, larger stores such as Brown Thomas, Arnotts, Marks & Spencer and Debenhams, have slashed some items to attract footfall.

But store bosses say the best bargains are still to be had in the St Stephen’s Day sales where big-ticket items can be had at up to half price. So for the (very) late present givers, there’s still time (sort of).