WHETHER it was the spate of sales, or panic at the prospect of the last week before Christmas, the high street was heaving with shoppers over the weekend.

The toy department at Fenwicks was bustling with parents and children looking for those special Christmas gifts.

Toy department manager Rebecca Fox said: "We get a lot of parents coming in with lists, but we're the only place in York with a Santa's Grotto where the kids can go for free, so some children come along for that."

"The top five sellers this year have been Monopoly: Here And Now, the Barbie Primp And Style set, the Roboraptor dinosaur, Furbies and Doctor Who Daleks.

"A lot of people know that this stuff sells out very quickly, so we haven't had too many disappointed shoppers - the really heavily TV advertised toys always sell out".

Sinead Mallon, manager at the new Zara store, in Coney Street, said: "As you'd expect, it's been very busy in the run-up to Christmas.

"We only opened last Wednesday and it's been busy since then."

Ian Hayward, manager at the WH Smith store in the city centre, said: "We've been very busy both this weekend and last weekend. And we're expecting a very busy end to the week."

Debenhams, in Davygate, was one of the stores that had sales on over the weekend.

Olenka Cogias, manager at Elizabeth Arden on the ground floor, said: "We were really busy on Saturday. It was the last day of our sale. We've had a good run-up in general really."

Denise Parker, manager at Goldsmiths, in Coney Street, said: "Last weekend was better - but we are still doing well."

She said the boom in Internet shopping appeared not to have hit sales at the jewellers. "People may look at watches online, but they tend to want to come into a shop to buy jewellery."

Manjeet Dhokar, deputy manager at electrical store Dixons, said: "It has been busy, but it's a bit difficult to tell at the moment."

Evening Press reporter GERRAN GRIMSHAW asked people in York how their shopping had gone

Tracey Ware, of Muncaster, said: "I'll probably be spending about the same. I like to remember the real meaning of Christmas. I think a lot people use it as an excuse to spend too much money and over-indulge."

Susan Simpson, of Tadcaster, said: "I've probably spent a bit less than last Christmas as I got bigger presents than this year. I like to see what we are getting, so I got all my presents on the high street."

Byron Ward, of Huntington, said: "I think I've spent less than last year.

I've been doing some 'clever' shopping this year. BHS have saved my life!"

Dan Key, of Monk Bar, said: "I've spent more than last year because I've got a new job that pays more - and last year I used my ASDA staff discount for all my presents. I did all my shopping on the high street".

Warning on fake £20s

SHOPKEEPERS in York are being warned to keep on the look-out for counterfeit notes, after the Evening Press obtained a fake £20.

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police force warned that bogus notes were likely to become more common with £20s and some fake £10s in circulation. Businesses have also been told to be on their guard.

Since January this year, police in York and Selby received more than 26 counterfeit currency reports, 15 of which had taken place since the beginning of April.

The police spokeswoman said businesses should get in touch with officers if they could identify a counterfeit suspect, but should otherwise advise a customer to take a forged note back to the bank.

Updated: 10:16 Monday, December 19, 2005