STORES across Swindon have reported big sales increases as shoppers snap up post-Christmas bargains.

People are believed to have waited for the winter sales, which started on Boxing Day, to take advantage of price cuts before splashing out.

Tristan Winter, junior manager at the Borders bookstore at the Orbital Retail Park in North Swindon, said sales had been huge.

Extra staff have been taken on to cope with demand at the DFS furniture store in Wootton Bassett Road, where brown leather suites have proved particularly popular with customers.

Manager Paul Nicholls said sales were significantly up on last year.

Michelle Jackson, a manager of House of Fraser in the Brunel Centre, said: "Sales have done well in all areas but particularly in homewares and electrical goods."

Waterstones' Brunel Plaza manager Keely Wilby said: "We've been very busy here, and books have been flying off the shelves.

"I fully expect us to match if not exceed last year's sales figures."

Martin Woodhouse, store manager of Marks & Spencer in Regent Street, said business was up 16 per cent on last year.

He said: "It's very competitive on the retail market I've never known there to be so many offers."

Rob Jack, store manager of Woolworths in Regent Street, said sales were buoyant and expected them to stay high for the next few days until people go back to work.

Post-Christmas bargain hunters turned out in their droves at the Great Western Designer Outlet Village, which attracted more than 11,000 people on Boxing Day up five per cent on the same time last year.

And the exact figure could be even higher, according to Jon McIlhagga, retail operations manager.

"It is worked out on the number of people using the car park, so adding the people who walk or come by bus would give you more," he said.

Mr McIlhagga suggested shoppers might be becoming more confident they can leave their purchases until after Christmas. "Some families might agree to exchange presents later to save money," he said. "But it is always busy at this time of year."