Stores across the West Midlands have made an early start to festive sales to help kick-start a last-minute Christmas shopping boom.

Despite fears of a credit squeeze, shoppers packed centres across the region yesterday as retailers decided to discount goods early rather than wait till Boxing Day.

A slow start to December had left stores fearing hard-up shoppers were planning a frugal Christmas but numbers picked up over the weekend, with many customers spending more than last year on food and gifts.

Some analysts suggested early sales may have been partly responsible for the upturn and Emma Hindes, manager for the Merry Hill centre, confirmed that about 30 stores at the Brierley Hill complex had already started discounting goods.

Many of these were in fashion and clothing retail - a sign that this sector may have experienced a difficult period.

She also said that despite a slow start to the Christmas period, sales had also picked up due to late night and weekend openings - last week the centre opened until midnight.

"Although Saturday was our busiest shopping day our late night trade has been well beyond our expectations," she said. "It is the second year we have opened until midnight, but this year shoppers really seem to have taken it on board."

Extended hours also saw some Merry Hill stores trading for 16 hours on Saturday, from 6am until 10pm. Technology, jewellery and perfumes were among the best sellers.

Saturday failed to break any records for Birmingham's Bullring, which saw 230,000 shoppers pass through its doors, compared with the 250,000 it attracted on the last weekend - traditionally pay day - in November.

But Louise Hamer-Brown, marketing controller at the Bullring, said footfall remained comparable to last year, with shoppers spending 10 to 15 per cent more on average.

She said: "Last year's Christmas was the best ever for the Bullring, and we seem to be seeing similar numbers of shoppers, but they are spending a bit more. We hadn't expected to see that, so it is a nice surprise."

Items flying off the shelves included games, toys and food, with Selfridges' IT'SUGAR candy stall proving a massive hit with shoppers.

Ms Hamer-Brown added: "2008 will be the fifth year for the Bullring, so we can no longer trade on the novelty factor.

"So far we have traded above the national average - we will have to be proactive to maintain that next year."

A spokesman from Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the late upturn in sales was welcome.

He said: "Retailers will be pleased with the late flurry of activity after the predictions of doom and gloom. Once again Birmingham's excellent retail offer proves itself to be a vital part of the city's economy."

As well as competition from the internet, the recent cold snap may have deterred shoppers and forced retailers to take action.

A spokesman for the British Retail Consortium said: "We are expecting by close on Christmas Eve to see a modest growth, similar to last year, of about 2.5 per cent. "I think retailers will feel in the current climate that they have done well if they match year-on-year growth."

BRC director Kevin Hawkins added: "There will be sharp differences between retail's winners and losers.

"Those that got it right on price and availability should have done well. Department stores and those in shopping centres have also benefited as cold weather has made some high streets less attractive.

"But others, especially those without a distinctive offer or who are less able to afford discounts, have struggled."

Many people have decided to avoid the high street completely this year by shopping on the internet.

Sale website ebay said its top seller in the past week had been the Nintendo Wii, with 36,641 sold, followed by the Xbox 360 with 11,054 sales. The Nintendo DS, iPods, and Ugg boots are also in the top ten.