SHOPPING centres around Scotland enjoyed a brisk day's trade yesterday as people flocked to the stores for Christmas bargains on "Panic Saturday".

High street spending across the UK was set to hit £1.2 billion yesterday on what, for many shops, will be their busiest weekend of the year.

Although exact footfall numbers have not yet been confirmed, ­shopping centres spoke of large crowds through the doors on one of their most s­ignificant days for business.

Across Britain today, 13 million consumers were set to spend £2.1 million for every minute the shops were open on last-minute gifts and groceries at an average of £92.31 per person, according to a report by the Centre for Retail Research (CRR).