Despite concerns in early December of a slow start to spending, consumers have hit the high street to splash the cash in the post-Christmas period.

Stores such as Marks & Spencer and CastleCourt in Belfast have been packed with people hoping to pick up a bargain.

There had been fears in the run-up to Christmas that there would be a downturn in sales spending on the high street due to the growth of internet shopping. However, retail giant M&S - which began its sale on December 27 - said shoppers are still walking through its doors.

The chain was offering as much as 70% off selected goods, attracting hundreds to queue outside.

Ann Laverty, Belfast store manager for Marks & Spencer, said: "Our sale is going very well indeed and there are still some excellent bargains available.

"Men's suits and footwear as well as the Per Una ranges are doing particularly well."

And CastleCourt was also still extremely busy.

Paul McMahon, centre manager at CastleCourt, said the slow start to the Christmas shopping period has picked up and business was very positive.

"Since Christmas we have seen a very steady flow of people looking for that bargain.

"It has been a busy post Christmas period and people have continued to come in to look.

"I think the spending did come late but I think a lot of it depends on the day when Christmas falls," he said.

"All the fashion shops are doing very well and across the board the post-Christmas period has met or exceeded their expectations."

Mr McMahon added: "The reality is in this job you have to look at the whole picture and with the slow start to Christmas there was a lot of people being apprehensive but it has turned out very well."

Shoppers in Londonderry have also been bagging sales bargains.

A spokesman for the Zavvi/Virgin Megastore in the Foyleside Shopping Centre said that the information so far indicated it had been another good year for the usual suspects.

Singers Garth Brooks, X-Factor winner Leona Lewis, Westlife, Celine Dion and compilation Now... 68 were the top sellers from the music department.

"Wii and DS games have been big this Christmas, as have the Xbox 360 games.

"People have been in looking for the Christmas titles, the ones that have been big in the charts. Pro Evolution (Soccer) was another big seller."

Next's Foyleside boss Kieran Cassidy said: "In comparison to the end of season sale and the summer sale we are running at 20% ahead of last year."

Traditional family-owned department store Austins, a firm Derry favourite, is also reporting a rise in sales.

Director Declan Hasson said: "Our sales are going quite well, they are slightly better than last year.

"The sales can sometimes tail off after Christmas but we haven't seen that this year.

"The fashions have seen high volumes and we'd be big on the home side - cookware and household items - but over the first three days of the sales, fashions have led the way.

"But on Sunday, it was noticeable that household goods were the big seller.

"Maybe it was a Sunday phenomenon.

"We're very happy with the way the sales are going. We've had four days and so far so good.

"It won't be until the end of this current week that we can make an assessment as it is still the holiday period.

"It has been an encouraging start for us."