Pre-Christmas sales launched
Major retailers are slashing prices in a pre-Christmas bid to breathe life into the ailing high street.
Marks & Spencer is cutting prices by 20% in its clothing and homewares departments for one day and Debenhams and Bhs are also discounting stock.
The high street fears the economic downturn will stop people hitting the shops, with Debenhams saying it is set to be "the worst Christmas ever".