Millions of shoppers hit the high streets in search of a bargain today as the Boxing Day sales got off to a storming start. Large queues built up outside city centre stores in Wolverhampton and Birmingham as well as the Merry Hill Centre in Dudley hours before the doors opened.

An estimated 5.6 million drivers were expected to take to the nation’s roads in search of a bargain, according to Green Flag breakdown.

Up to 700 people were waiting outside the Next store at St John’s Retail Park in Wolverhampton when its sale started at 6am.

Some arrived four hours before the doors opened.

A similar number were waiting at the chain’s branch at Merry Hill and the story was the same in Birmingham’s Bullring.

Bosses at Bullring were expecting almost a quarter of a million people to visit the mall today, with shoppers flooding stores including Selfridges in search of cut price designer clothes and accessories.

Bargain hunters starting queueing in their droves outside Selfridges hours before it opened at 8am.

Another Bullring store with an outside entrance, Debenhams, began welcoming customers from 7am.

The department store was offering discounts of up to 70 per cent.

Unseasonally mild weather and the need to get value for money amid the current financial uncertainty were credited with boosting numbers this year.

Shoppers in London faced major disruption because Tube drivers went on strike over a pay dispute that had already forced Arsenal to switch the Boxing Day clash with Wolves to tomorrow.

It might also help to explain why Debenhams, whose Boxing Day sale started today, reported a 75 per cent spike in Christmas Day online traffic compared with last year.

A spokeswoman said customers were enjoying the opportunity to pick up bargains without leaving home.