<p><br /> Retailers have reported a sales bonanza as shoppers finally ventured out on a last-minute Christmas spending spree.<br /> </p><p><br /> Malls and supermarkets said they were predicting record sales for the day after witnessing queues for car parks and crowded stores.<br /> </p><p><br /> With many forced by snow to delay shopping trips - and with a VAT hike looming - payment card group Visa Europe say they expect record-breaking levels of sales.<br /> </p><p><br /> While final figures will not be available until later, the group expected to process around 26.5 million transactions worth more than £1.2 billion for Thursday alone.<br /> </p><p><br /> Phil Steele, general manager of Eldon Square shopping centre in Newcastle city centre, said: "It is very busy. It snowed first thing this morning and all last night but by 9am all the car parks were packed and had queues outside."<br /> </p><p><br /> Shoppers were also out in force at the McArthurGlen designer retail outlet centre off the M4 in Bridgend, South Wales.<br /> </p><p><br /> Bosses at the "shopping village", which is home to 90 separate retail outlets, said business was brisk.<br /> </p><p><br /> Last-minute shoppers in Birmingham did not appear to be put off by the freezing conditions.<br /> </p><p><br /> With the snowfall relenting, managers at the Bullring shopping centre said they were anticipating record numbers of people through the doors in the hunt for festive bargains.<br /> </p><p><br /> The giant Meadowhall shopping centre, near Sheffield, reported packed car parks and stores as up to 130,000 people turned up for last-minute Christmas shopping.<br /> </p><p><br /> Tesco said it had enjoyed its busiest day of the year.<br /> </p><p><br /> Anne Pitcher, Selfridges' buying and merchandising director, said: "Despite the bad weather, customers have been shopping in Selfridges in high numbers and we fully expect the last couple of days before Christmas to be busier than ever."<br /> </p><p><br /> The retailer said it expected more than 250,000 customers to start their festive shopping on Christmas Eve, the majority of them men.<br /> </p>
