York's supermarkets were swept by a record outbreak of Christmas shopping fever today.

Aisles were heavily congested and trolley traffic jams built up at check-outs as tens of thousands of shoppers stocked up for the festive season.

"It has been the biggest day of the retail Millennium," said Paul Williamson, general manager of Asda at Monks Cross, who praised staff for coping well with the pressure.

"It has been phenomenal. Every check-out is open, but people are queuing five deep."

It was a similar story at the Tesco store at Clifton Moor, where manager John McAlpine said: "Our business over the last three days has been absolutely exceptional.

"By this morning, trade was up by 18 per cent on last year. People were queuing until 2am today, and then it started all over again at 7.30am.

"All 42 tills are open and the trolleys are still queuing two to three deep and it will probably be four or five deep later today. It has been relentless."

He estimated that some 15,000 customers would pass through the store today, and believed some were stocking up not only for Christmas but also for Millennium celebrations.

Ian Harrison, deputy store manager at Sainsbury's store at Monks Cross, said: "We are breaking all records. It's extremely busy.

"Every till is open and the queues are perhaps 20 deep. People are really pushing the boat out because of the Millennium."

Check-out staff at Safeways in Acomb were equally busy coping with demand. Store manager Mike Joseph said: "People are queuing down the aisles and the car park was full from 10am. It has been constant."

The pressure was equally great at Tesco's Tadcaster Road store, where a spokeswoman said: "It's extremely busy. They started coming in at 5am and it hasn't stopped since."

Sainsbury's at Foss Bank was also extremely busy, said deputy manager Angela Jasper.

Meanwhile, city centre stores' tills were still ringing in the final days before Christmas. "It has continued to be very busy," said Adam Sinclair, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce's retail committee. "York has had a very good Christmas."

l In case you haven't yet done your food shopping: Asda will be open continuously until 6pm tomorrow, Sainsbury's at Monk's Cross is open until 11pm today, and will re-open tomorrow from 7am to 5pm, Sainsburys at Foss Bank closes at 9pm and will re-open from 7am to 5pm tomorrow. Tesco at Dringhouses and Clifton Moor are open continuously until 5pm tomorrow night, while Safeway closes tonight at 10pm and re-opens tomorrow from 7am until 5pm.

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