THOUSANDS of Wyre Forest bargain hunters did their bit to beat predictions of a dire festive shopping season.

Shoppers rushed for bargains in the days leading up to New Year, continuing where they left off in the week before Christmas when there was a late "mad dash" for gifts.

At Matalan in Kidderminster the opening sales day on Friday was "tremendously busy".

"There were people waiting for us to open at 8am and it didn't stop all day," said a spokeswoman.

Kidderminster department store TJ Hughes reported massive interest in cut-price household items. Electrical store Curry's also reported huge interest in a range of sale items, including DVD players and televisions.

There had been a slow start to festive shopping - but that had turned into a flood by Christmas Eve.

Philip Dunn, manager of the Rowland Hill Centre in Kidderminster, said: "It was slow to begin with but then it went manic. It will turn out to have been quite a good Christmas for many shops."

Russell Hinton, chairman of Stourport Business Association, said his store - Manton's Jewellers - had enjoyed a roaring trade in the week before the big day.

"It has compared very favourably to previous years. I think shoppers wanted to come to Stourport because the shops offer friendly service."

In Bewdley, trade was also "late but good", said Alan Ferguson, owner of Bewdley Books and a member of the town's chamber of trade.

"It has gone very well. The town has bounced back from the months of roadworks and flood defence works.

"I think we have done well here because the shops are traditional and are mainly owned by independent traders. People like the nostalgic feel."

Ros Darby, from Kidderminster's Swan Centre, said most shops reported a sudden boom particularly following the traditional factory closures on the Friday before Christmas. "All weekend and the Monday and Tuesday were very busy," she said.

"We were also busy straight after Christmas, but we are finding that the late afternoon free parking has not really led to extra business - the town has not seemed very busy at all after 4pm."

At TJ Hughes, assistant manager Gary Dickinson warned that a busy Christmas could not wipe out the legacy of a year of disruption.

"Trade has been affected all year, mainly because of the reduced parking, and we will all continue to be affected until the new retail park is completed.

" The park and ride scheme is not well used. On the Saturday after Christmas only 35 people used it all day. It's not the answer.

"The good thing is that the end is in sight on the new retail park. New shops, bars and restaurants plus a cinema - if it comes- will make Kidderminster a great place to shop."