BIG discounts being offered by retailers tempted Christmas shoppers out in huge numbers yesterday to high streets and shopping centres across the UK.

Retailers were enjoying brisk trade on what was the penultimate Saturday before Christmas Day, despite the bad weather.

Shoppers were out in force as some of the most famous stores offered general reductions of up to 50% and cut prices by up to 75% on selected gifts. Debenhams, House of Fraser, Boots and H&M were all offering discounts in an attempt to attract customers over the festive period.

At Glasgow's Silverburn shopping centre, the PS4 games console is proving to be the sell-out Christmas gift.

The past week - from Saturday to Thursday - has seen a 5% rise in footfall compared with the same period in 2012.