Black Friday bargain-hunters caused chaos across Britain today as stores led by Asda slashed prices on Christmas electronics and gifts.



Frenzied shoppers caused a stampede in one shopping centre, while other Asda stores saw injuries, arrests and ugly squabbles over discount goods.



Asda opened some of its stores at 8am, leading desperate shoppers to snatch items off the shelves in seconds and fight among themselves.



A woman was taken to hospital with a suspected broken arm after a shopping centre stampede in Northern Ireland.



There were claims a heavily pregnant woman was pushed and shoved and pensioners were knocked to the ground by frantic shoppers at an Asda store in west Belfast.



Eyewitnesses outside one Asda store - where electronic tablets had been slashed to £49 - said there were queues from 5am.



Dozens of shoppers took to Twitter to describe the chaotic scenes which unfolded in Asda stores nationwide.

























At one supermarket in Liverpool, a woman was hospitalised after reportedly being punched in the face during the shopping frenzy.



Other shoppers said bargain hunters descended 'like locusts' as soon as the doors opened, with the best bargains snatched off the shelves in under 10 minutes.

View photos

View photos

View photos

View photos

Story continues