BOLTON folk went spending crazy over Christmas - withdrawing millions from banks. Shoppers took more than £2m alone from cash machines at the Royal Bank of Scotland's town centre branch. And retailers today said they almost buckled under the strain of people looking for bargains over the festive period.

Deborah Singleton, deputy manager at Bolton's Market Place, said more than 450,000 shoppers had visited the shopping centre in the first week of the New Year sales.

Visitor numbers were up 30 per cent compared to the previous year, when Bolton had the advantage of Manchester shops being closed because of the IRA bomb.

"It's been our most successful Christmas on record," said Mrs Singleton. "People have been flocking in for bargains, particularly in the clothes shops. This is a great boost to morale with the Trafford Centre about to open. It shows people still really want to come to Bolton."

Royal Bank of Scotand figures released showed the three cash points at its Deansgate base in Bolton were the fifth most popular in the country.

Bargain hunters withdrew a record £2,090,750 in December, beating levels of money taken from branches in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Another £2.5 million was taken from Bolton branches in Astley Bridge, Deane, Harwood and in Chorley - a 12.5 per cent increase compared to last year.

"We've never known anything like it - it was extremely busy," said a spokesman.

Brian Lunn, manager at Bolton's Marks and Spencer, also said trade had been hectic in Deansgate.

"Business has been very strong," he said. "The first day of the sales was one of busiest here for years."

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