
It was supposed to be the start of the peak Christmas shopping season. But across Britain yesterday, stores were left looking more like a battlefield as Black Friday frenzy took hold. Shoppers fought – in some cases literally – to get the best bargains.

At Asda’s flagship store in Wembley, a smartly dressed young woman clung frantically to a 40in Polaroid TV which had been reduced by £80 as a group of young teens tried to wrestle it away from her.

Witnesses told how bargain-hunters behaved ‘like animals’ and likened scenes to ‘a war zone’ as police were called to restore order at many stores, including Tesco branches in Edmonton, Willesden and Surrey Quays in London.

Scroll down for videos and some of the best Black Friday deals

Scrum down: Customers push each other out of the way as the crowd surges towards widescreen televisions at the Asda store in Wembley

Shoppers in Bristol grappled over a TV which have been reduced from £399 to £249 at the Tesco store in Eastville during today's Black Friday sales

The four determined shoppers were involved in a tug of war-style tussle as they all tried to claim one of the 50inch Blaupunkt TVs

The disagreement was just one of many which unfolded in Tesco stores across the country as shoppers desperately tried to get their hands on some of the Black Friday bargains

The row broke out as customers pounced on a fresh delivery of discount TVs, which arrived at the Bristol store just after midnight

Shoppers dived into the collection of TVs, ripping open the delivery before the shop assistant even had a chance to do so

Queues had formed before midnight as many retailers, who had heavily advertised Black Friday savings, opened early.

But police were called to a Tesco in Wigan at 11.37pm on Thursday - before it had even opened- after reports that several hundred people were trying to break down the doors before the official midnight opening time.

Another Tesco store, in Manchester, had to be closed just 36 minutes after opening due to fighting, while another customer was arrested on suspicion of assault in the Salford branch after allegedly telling a staff member that he would 'smash their face in'.

Two other customers were arrested for public order offences by officers in Manchester, who dealt with some of the worst scenes of violence on the biggest day of discount shopping in the year.

As the discounting frenzy reached fever pitch, there were also reports of staff being left in tears in Cardiff, while another female staff member was apparently given a black eye following a melee in Stretford.

To me, to you: People struggle to carry their purchases as they make their way to the checkouts in Newcastle

The Blaupunkt TVs appeared to be the most popular items and prompted dozens of rows - even though some were reduced by just £60

In shocking scenes, a woman desperately clung to a TV after a brawl broke out at the Asda store in Wembley over the cut-price item

The woman competed with other shoppers to try and get her hands on the last Polaroid TV in the store, which had just £80 knocked off the original price

A staff member was forced to intervene as the customer fell to her knees in a desperate attempt to claim the TV, which was reduced from £219 to £139

Two men were filmed throwing punches at each other in a row over a 50inch Blaupunkt TV which was on sale for just £100 at a Tesco in Redditch, Worcestershire.

Tom McHugh, 29, captured the moment and said: 'As soon as the pallets holding the TVs came out of the store room everyone dived in and everyone was going mad.

'There was no order whatsoever. One lad jumped over from the escalator to help his mate who was chest to chest with another man.

'There was lots of pushing and shoving everywhere.'

At one Tesco store in Glasgow, shoppers could be seen pushing, punching and shouting at one another as they frantically tried to get their hands on slashed-price TV’s.

The Tesco Extra in the Silverburn area of the city was forced to temporarily close due to the chaos and a bin was set on fire outside the shop.

The shoppers were seen pushing and fighting one another on the shop floor as they tried to get their hands on the reduced item

Crowds surged through the store as they battled to purchase one of the Polaroid 40inch HD TVs which is now out of stock across Asda stores

A man is one of the first shoppers through the door at Asda in Wembley where crowds turned on each other to fight over TVs and gadgets

Hundreds of people push through the doors of Asda in Wembley, north London, this morning in a bid to get their hands on a bargain

More customers fight over discounted televisions at the Asda store in Wembley, north London. Despite the chaos no arrests were made

Tensions flare between at Wembley as cheerleaders dance in the background, with staff clambering to keep crowds from turning on each other

At a Tesco store in Eastville, Bristol, a shop assistant barely had time to open the fresh delivery of 50inch Blaunpunkt TVs before four determined customers had started grappling over the item, which had been reduced from £399 to £249.

And in another bizarre incident, a Tesco employee was allegedly verbally abused by a customer who was upset that houmous had not been reduced as part of the Black Friday reductions.

Amid the scenes of carnage, shoppers were predicted to have blown £1.1billion on the high street, working out at £2million per minute during the nine hours of trading, according to figures from the Centre for Retail Research.

A senior police officer has now hit out at supermarkets for failing to have adequate security in the run-up to the Black Friday sales.

Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Sir Peter Fahy said the mayhem which broke out overnight were 'totally predictable' but that stores did not have enough staff on duty in the run-up to the manic sales.

He said: 'The events of last night were totally predictable and I am disappointed that stores did not have sufficient security staff on duty.

Tensions: A bitter argument erupts among Wembley shoppers as shoppers are accused of behaving like animals during the Black Friday discounts

Shoppers scramble to get their hands on televisions, cooking appliances and other goods at Asda in Wembley, north London, this morning

Huge crowds swelled through the Tesco store in Edmonton, one of the four London stores to where police had to be called over Black Friday mayhem

Chaos erupted at another Asda store in north London where hundreds pushed over each other to get their hands on discounted goods

Men clamber over one another as determined shoppers push their way to through Asda in north London. Despite disruption across stores throughout the capital, Metropolitan Police made no arrests in relation to Black Friday sales overnight

Crushed: A woman is pushed to the ground as another screams while shoppers clamber over each other at Asda in Wembley, north London

A lone shop assistant hands out Seiki and Polaroid televisions to impatient crowds at Asda in Wembley where hundreds flocked for bargains

Cheerleaders keep crowds going at the Wembley store in north London this morning as hundreds descended on the store for sales

Cherrelle Welch in north London with her 40in HD Polaroid television being sold by the supermarket for just £139 - £90 less than usual

'This created situations where we had to deal with crushing, disorder and disputes between customers. It does not help that this was in the early hours when police resources are already stretched.'

In Tesco stores up and down the country, desperate shoppers were seen scrapping as they tried to get what appeared to be one of Tesco's best-selling market items - a Blaupunkt HD TV, which had just £60 knocked off the original price.

At an Asda store in Wembley, shocking footage emerged showing a woman clinging on to a Polaroid TV - which had been reduced by just £80 to £139 - during a tug of war fight with two teenagers.

The woman is seen clambering over the box and, at one point, is thrown to the floor as she attempts to hold onto the cut-price TV, before a staff is forced to intervene.

As the doors opened at the store this morning, people trampled over one another, with some falling to the ground, while cheerleaders dressed in black gleefully chanted behind them.

Danial Jabbar, 15, and his older cousin turned up at 6.30am and saw a woman in her twenties involved in the 'tug of war' with two teenage boys who also wanted to buy the same discounted TV set.

Danial said: 'It was really shocking seeing how seriously some people took it. We saw a proper fight break out with shouting and stuff.'

He added: 'We already knew where the TVs were, we'd checked before so we knew where we were going. When we got into the store at about eight we sprinted to the bit where they have the TVs.

'There were about 20-25 boxes and loads of people were jostling round trying to get them. Then as we each took one, a fight broke out. I had to stand back and someone called the security.

'I could hear someone shouting 'You're only allowed one per person, only one per person'. In the end the manager arrived and had to drag the boys away. They were being really aggressive.'

Shoppers pile the discounted Polaroid television, reduced from £219 to £139, into trolleys at Asda in Plymouth, Devon. The 40in TV was being sold for £250 among other bargains

Hundreds of people queued outside the Plymouth superstore this morning as retailers predict one of the busiest shopping days of the year

A man with an X-box 360 and one of the popular Polaroid televisions packs his purchases into his car this morning in Plymouth, Devon

Among the most popular purchases were television and games consoles, with hundreds of pounds knocked off electrical goods for one day

A shopper looks elated with her purchases in the Asda superstore in Plymouth, Devon this morning where hundreds waited outside

Yet another shopper leaves Asda, happy to have got his hands on one of the coveted Polaroid televisions for £139. Women carrying bagfuls of bargains followed as a security guard waved off shoppers at the store in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, this morning

A woman carts around a television and a bike in the Plymouth Asda superstore as schoolchildren and staff navigate their way through crowds

While no official figures have been released by Asda, hundreds of shoppers have been seen multiple Polaroid HD television into their cars and trolleys this morning. The television was reduced by £80 to £139

An Asda employee carts a Polaroid television a man's car as he wheels a children's playhouse and game towards the car park in Plymouth

A woman clutches items as shoppers push one another to get to the till at Tesco in Western Avenue, Cardiff, this morning

Hundreds of people swarmed the store in Cardiff to take advantage of cut prices, queuing from 6pm until midnight to be first through the doors

Within minutes of doors being opened at the store in Cardiff items had flown off shelves, with shoppers clambering over each other to buy coffee machines (pictured) and other electrical goods

A woman carrying a discounted Krups coffee machine makes her way to the tills as other fight for bargains in Cardiff under banners bearing the Black Friday slogan 'When it's gone it's gone'

A woman celebrates snapping up a Polaroid television in Asda in Edinburgh. The television was being sold for £80 less than usual

Leoni Welsh lies underneath the popular 40in television in Asda. The television was being sold for £80 cheaper than usual across stores

A shopper is taken aback when perusing cut-price electrical goods in Asda where a 40in Polaroid HD television was discounted to £139 and a Seiki

A woman with children's sets including a Barbie toy and two dolls wheels her purchases away from Asda in Cardiff with her daughter in tow

A man wheels his Xbox 360 away from crowds at Asda in Pudsey, Leeds. The retailer was selling the popular games console for £99 with two games - it usually retails for £199

BLACK FRIDAY MAYHEM: HOW SCENES OF CHAOS AND VIOLENCE ERUPTED ACROSS THE UK LONDON: Police were called to Tesco stores in Edmonton, Willesden and Surrey Quays. Footage from an Asda in Wembley showed people fighting over televisions. MANCHESTER: Police were called to Tesco Central Park, Wigan, where two men were kicked out amid reports of fighting. They were also called to the Tesco on Ashton Road West to control crowds of more than 500 people. The Tesco in Ellesmere Shopping Centre in Walkden had to be closed down after a crowd of more than 500 people turned up. The Tesco Extra in Stretford closed 36 minutes after opening when fights broke out between shoppers trying to get their hands on sale stock. A woman suffered minor injuries after being hit by a falling television. Reports that one staff member was left with a black eye. Police were called to Tesco on Woodrow Way, Salford. One man was arrested on suspicion of assault. At Tesco Extra on Barton Road, Middleton, officers had to intervene after 200 people refused to leave despite being told it was sold out. Police went to the Tesco Extra on Stockport Road, Hattersley, following reports of fighting. One man was arrested for a public order offence. A 42-year-old man was arrested over an alleged assault at the store in Tesco, Burnage. CARDIFF: South Wales Police received a number of calls from Tesco staff worried about the volume of people who had turned up for sales events. Officers went to a store on Excelsior Road in Cardiff twice after midnight over concerns about 'customer conduct', police said. No arrests were made. Reports that one staff member was left in tears after receiving verbal abuse from a customer. GLASGOW: Tesco at Silverburn was closed for a short period as people clashed over discounted goods. A bin was set on fire outisde the store. There were reports of one man holding another up by the throat. DUNDEE: Police were called to a Tesco Extra store in Kingsway West, and a decision was taken by staff to shut the shop. Advertisement

Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Police were called to seven stores overnight, including the Tesco Extra store in Stretford which had to be closed because of the level of fighting.

Hundreds of people also refused to leave the store on Barton Road, Middleton, despite staff telling them repeatedly that all stock had been sold.

The force said three people were arrested at Black Friday sales events and wrote on its Twitter page: 'Keep calm people.'

As well as an arrest at the store in Salford, a 42-year-old man was arrested over an alleged assault at the store in Burnage. At the branch in Stockport Road, Hattersley, another man was arrested for a public order offence.

Another officer from Surbiton, Sergeant Paul Marshall, also issued a friendly reminder to shoppers, telling them that 'shoving people to the floor so you can get £20 off a Coffee Maker' was still an assault - even on Black Friday.

Sir Peter added: 'Across Greater Manchester large supermarkets already make significant demands on policing through calls to shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and thefts of fuel from their petrol stations - much of which is preventable.

'We just ask these stores to work with us to reduce the demands on policing and reduce the risks of disorder and crime.'

Shaun Thompson, 21, described how 'all hell broke lose' at the Stretford store when the queuing system 'broke down'.

He said: 'It was getting more heated by the minute and the next thing, at about ten to midnight, voices got raised. The shouting went through the roof, then all hell broke loose. They were ripping the plastic off the palettes and people started fighting.

'One girl, who can't have been more than 16, picked up some advent calendars and flung them across the shop. I saw a member of staff leaving with a black eye. It was something I would never like to experience again.'

In London, Scotland Yard confirmed officers had been called to at least three Tesco stores, including in Willesden, Surrey Quays and Edmonton following frantic reports of crowd surges and scuffles.

Crowds of 500 people gathered at Tescos in Walkden and Failsworth, prompting staff to call police to the scene.

Diane Wilks tweeted: 'Tesco walkden was the same. Security was a joke, only saw two. They were grabbing TVs and running out the store.'

A Tesco source insisted they 'work closely' with police and will take guidance on security measures in stores, adding: 'We will work with them following this event to make any improvements for next year.'

It added: 'Over 600 Tesco stores have Black Friday offers available in store. In the interest of customer safety a small number of these stores contacted police last night to help control crowds safely and stores are now trading normally.'

An Asda spokesman also said: 'We do not condone the behaviour of a very small number of people in our Wembley store this morning.

'Despite our extensive planning and additional security colleagues there was an isolated incident this morning when the store opened. The sale has run smoothly in all our other 440 participating stores.'

The Black Friday phenomenon has spread to the UK in recent years after becoming a big hit in the U.S., where traditionally big sales occur on the first Friday after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Today is expected to be the UK's biggest day of spending this year, with the majority of stores – both online and in the high street – heavily discounting an array of goods.

Major fashion chains such as Topshop, Urban Outfitters, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, House of Fraser and Debenhams are promising deals of between 50 and 70 per cent off, while supermarket giants including Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury's will battle it out with cut-price technological goods, toys and home furnishings.

Despite the chaos in some of the store, early figures indicated that shoppers were not put off from visiting the shops.

An Asda spokesman said there had already been two million visitors in stores across the country and that many more were expected, making it the single busiest trading day of the year so far.

After opening their doors at 8am, Asda sold 8,000 TVs in first 60 minutes.

There were also 3,500 BEATS Dr Dre headphones and 1,000 BMX bikes sold before 9am, whie there were 10,000 tablets sold in the first two hours alone. All stores also sold out of X Box 360 Consoles by 9am.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed on Twitter that two people had been arrested overnight in connection with incidents at Black Friday sales

Sergeant Paul Marshall issued a friendly reminder to shoppers, telling them that 'shoving people to the floor so you can get £20 off a Coffee Maker' was still an assault - even on Black Friday

Shoppers flocked to stores across Britain just after midnight to snap up Black Friday bargains, including heavily-discounted flat screen TVs

There were chaotic scenes in supermarkets up and down the country including at a Tesco store in Baguely, Wythenshawe, Manchester

There were lengthy queues outside Tesco in Bolton just before the Black Friday started at midnight (left) before scrambling commenced (right)

Tesco Extra in Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, was packed full of shoppers clambering to snap up bargains just after midnight

Several customers in Kingston Park Tesco in Newcastle upon Tyne hit the store in the early hours to get their hands on cut-price products

In a Tesco store in Great Yarmouth, shoppers could be seen tearing open a box of cut-price LED TVs before rushing off to the till to buy them

Several Tesco Extra stores were full of customers after opening at one minute past midnight, including this store in Norwich, Norfolk

Video footage taken inside a Tesco store in Lea Valley, London, showed customers scrambling to get to the shelves as the sales launched

Pushing and shoving appeared be the order of the day as shoppers in the London supermarket barged each other out of the way to get deals

Police were called to the Tesco superstore in Stretford, Greater Manchester, where a woman was injured by a falling TV

WHY SOME STORES ARE NOT TAKING PART IN BLACK FRIDAY Next, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Harrods and Liberty are among the stores that have decided not to take part in Black Friday. Selfridges has decided to hold out until Boxing Day, because of the fact Thanksgiving is not a public holiday in the UK. Head of press and marketing at Liberty of London Kate Brindley said the 139-year-old British department store would not be taking part in Black Friday because of an existing promotion with the store's loyalty card holders. She said: 'The loyalty card holder event happens to run at the same time as Black Friday so we could not do both. 'Our loyalty will always be with existing customers.' A source at Burberry, which is also having no part in any Black Friday price-cutting, told the Telegraph that participating in the American event would be 'out of context here.' Next also said it was not taking part in the promotion but did not want to comment on its decision. Aldi also tweeted earlier today, suggesting it was not taking part in the promotion. The tweet said: 'Hmmm. We think we did #BlackFriday last week. Although it was just called 'Friday'. And it's the same every day!' Advertisement

Meanwhile, passenger traffic on Oxford Street between 9am and midday was a fifth higher this year than the same day in 2013.

According to the New West End Company, a group of retailers and property owners in the Oxford Street area, the increase was around 29 per cent between 9am and 10am.

Jace Tyrrell, deputy chief executive of New West End Company, said: 'We are expecting a record amount of 'lone ranger' shoppers coming up to Oxford Street to hunt for the perfect gift on their own, as well as families this weekend.'

Abdou Sarr, store manager at Footlocker, said the number of customers had more than doubled.

He said: 'Compared with the rest of the week it's been manic. The number of people coming in is more than double and we've put on about 30 extra staff over the weekend to cope.

'It is just crazy. What we had this morning with the queue up the road was unusual. It is exciting. It's much bigger this year compared to Black Friday last year and it's obvious it is growing.'

But shoppers were left disappointed by the much-hyped price drops, while even retailers admitted customer numbers had not reached the predicted heights.

Kimberly Dean, 26, said: 'There aren't nearly as many sales as I expected. I was reading in places about getting 70 per cent off and things, but most places are more like 20 and 30 per cent.

'It's not that busy to be honest. I thought it would be more like Christmas Eve, when it really goes off, but apart from Asda in Colindale this morning, where some people were rowing about televisions, it's been fine.'

Some retail experts predict any surge in sales on Black Friday will simply bring forward business usually reserved for December and will stop customers from shelling out the full amount closer to Christmas.

Nick Bubb, an independent retail analyst, said: 'All Black Friday is likely to do is bring forward business from December, reduce gross margins and undermine consumer's willingness to pay full-price again before Xmas.'

Fiona Cincotta, a senior market analyst at www.finspreads.com, said: 'I struggle to remember UK retailers ever pushing Black Friday as much as they have done so this time around.

'This year feels extremely different... because UK retailers, especially supermarkets, are struggling and are in the middle of a structural decline driven by price deflation.

'Consumers have wised up when it comes to shopping around for bargains – a key factor behind retail price deflation – and so there's every chance that Black Friday could well have much greater traction this year than any other.

'However, the real question is at what cost this brings to underlying margins? Can retailers counter this through strong sales volumes? I am not convinced just yet and would rather wait until the post-Christmas data verifies whether retail tactics have won out.'

And Patrick O'Brien, retail analyst, Verdict Retail: 'It's way, way bigger than last year. We don't have numbers yet but the number of retailers on board this year compared to last year is just exponential.

'There has to be a similar increase in the spend. There's loads of retailers who weren't planning on taking part but have told us they've been forced to in the run up.

'If people are doing their Christmas shopping and they're doing it on Black Friday then, by the end of it, the money is gone - it has come out of their Christmas budget.

'If you haven't got the promotions on then they won't come to your store. They're forced to get involved, it has been exponential.'

Congested: One Tesco store in Great Yarmouth was packed full of shoppers in the early hours as they desperately tried to get a good deal

All to save a few £££: Shoppers scrambled among themselves as they desperately tried to bag a TV, many of which have been reduced by up to £100. Pictured: Customers flocked to the 24 hour Tesco store in Great Yarmouth in the early hours of this morning to snap up a bargain

Police were called to a Tesco store in Cardiff (pictured) following reports of a fight between customers over goods in the Black Friday sale

Flat screen LED TVs appeared to be one of the most popular choices among customers up and down the country today. Customers flocked to Tesco in Grimbsy (left) and in Cardiff (right) to snap up one of the Blaupunkt 32' televisions which was reportedly discounted by about £100

Shoppers could be seen leaving a Tesco store in Grimbsy in the early hours with shopping trolleys full of goods, namely flat screen TVs

In Edinburgh eager crowds queued up outside the Asda store in The Jewel for cut price goods. Unlike other supermarkets, the retailer did not open through the night, letting the first shoppers through their doors at 8am this morning

An Asda employee brings out more 22in LED Televisions in the Govan store near Glasgow (left) while two happy customers leave the Wembley stores with 40in screens and a microwave (right)

More shoppers struggle to carry their large 40in Polaroid televisions, with some unable to even get a trolley to wheel their purchases off

BLACK FRIDAY BARGAINS... AND THERE'S MORE TO COME TOMORROW Among the most popular deals at Asda today were offers on television and electrical gadgets, with shoppers clambering over one another for discounted Polaroid and Seiki models. Tomorrow deals will continue, with prices slashed even further. They include: Archos 70 7 inch Tablet Usual price: £69 Tomorrow's price: £29 Saving: £40 Polaroid 32 inch TV Usual price: £179 Tomorrow's price: £89 Saving: £90 X Box plus three games Usual price: £427 Tomorrow's price: £329 Saving: £108 Advertisement

Most of thee major supermarkets did not have an instore Black Friday sale last year.

For the first time, several large Tesco stores across Britain opened at one minute past midnight to catch early bird shoppers, while Sainsbury's started its sale at 1am in its 24-hour stores.

But chaos seemed to break out even before Tesco opened its doors.

In one store in Silverburn, Glasgow, shoppers could be seen physically pushing each other out of the way and shouting at one another as they frantically tried to get their hands on slashed-price technology goods.

The store was temporarily closed after police were called to scenes of chaos in which a bin was set on fire.

Hasan Bashie, who decided to go to the store to purchase a 50inch television, said fights broke out at around 11:50am, with one man holding another up by the throat.

The 18-year-old, who filmed what he described as a 'riot' within the store, said: 'There were about 15 TVs in three bulks in the middle of the store and everyone was trying to get to them.

'The TVs had lots of security around them but people were pushing and shoving through and suddenly there was a riot.

'Some people were throwing punches and one man held someone else up by the throat.

'The police then said they would have to close the store. I had gone there to get a TV but I wasn't willing to fight for one.'

Craig Lin wrote on Twitter: 'If your (sic) going to Tesco Silverburn, don't bother. Police have shut it down due to fighting over sales.'

And Sarah Coubrough wrote on Twitter: 'Silverburn shut cos shoppers going mental with the sales. Think I'll stick to the online shopping today.'

A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'At around 11.45pm police responded to reports of small altercation at Tesco Extra at Pollock due to the size of the crowd and general low level disorder, including a bin on fire outside the shop, a decision was taken by the security manager to close the store to ensure safety.

'The premises were emptied by store security staff, it reopened a short time later with no further disruption.

'There have been no arrests in relation to the incident.'

In another Tesco store, in Lea Valley, London, there were reports that police and ambulances had been called amid alleged disputes between customers. They were reportedly desperate to get their hands on discounted coffee machines.

Video footage taken from inside the store showed shoppers frantically scrambling towards the shelves, which were already starting look half empty.

In Crawley this morning, there were so many Black Friday bargain hunters queueing to get into an Asda store for its opening at 8am that the manager had to organise a 'shift system' to only let a certain amount of customers in at a time.

One onlooker said: 'It's amazing - the queue stretches all the way from the front doors to halfway along the building next to the road.'

On Facebook Lanya Bunyan said: 'Just been to Asda to get my stew bits for the weekend and it's crazy already, queues are phenomenal.'

Several shoppers tweeted their dismay at the scenes of chaos which appeared to sweep Tesco stores around the UK, including Cardiff

One shopper tweeted that she had seen a woman 'verbally abuse' a Tesco employee because the houmous had not been discounted

Frantic shoppers grabbed flat screen TVs and other technological goods as Tesco opened just after midnight in Kingston Park, Newcastle

Shoppers queued patiently outside Game in Eldon Square, Newcastle, to snap up bargains when the store opened its doors at midnight

Tesco in Cardiff was packed full of customers after opening its doors just after midnight, although police were called a short time later

Several police cars were called to a Tesco store in Western Avenue, Cardiff, following reports of a fight in the early hours of this morning. Sales were reportedly temporarily halted while the alleged dispute in the Tesco Extra store was dealt with by employees and a number of officers

BLACK FRIDAY BONANZA: THE PICK OF THE BEST SLASHED-PRICE DEALS FROM SOME OF THE MAJOR UK RETAILERS Kindle Fire HDX 7' tablet, 16GB AMAZON: Amazon has turned Black Friday into a week-long event, so sales started earlier than the majority of other retailers. The UK site's top deals include: 1. Kindle Fire HDX 7' tablet, 16GB Was: £199 Now: £99 Saving: £100 2. The Superman Movie Anthology Was: £9.85 Now: £6.99 Saving: 29% 3. Phillips Sonicare Diamond Clean Rechargeable Toothbrush Was: £246 Now: £73.99 Saving: 70% 4. Ghost Luminous Eau de Toilette for Women Was: £30.75 Now: £15.99 Saving: 48% 5. Davidoff Champion Energy Eau de Toilette for Men Was: £38 Now: £13 Saving: 66% off Call of Duty Advanced Warfare ASDA: Asda is expecting a real frenzy and claims to be the first bricks and mortar retailer to introduce the Black Friday phenomenon to the UK. This year's pick of the supermarket giant's best deals include: 1. 40' Polaroid LED TV Was: £219 Now: £139 Saving: £80 or 37% 2. Samsung Galaxy Note 8' Was: £249 Now: £149 Saving: £100 or 40% 3. Call of Duty Advanced Warfare on Xbox 360 and PS3 Was: £42.99 Now: £25 Saving: £17.99 or 42% 4. Little Tikes Activity Table Was: £40 Now: £20 Save: £20 or 50% 5. Colman 400 ATV 4X4 Quad Bike Was: £6,500 Now: £3,500 Saving: £3,000 or 46% HOUSE OF FRASER: House of Fraser started discounting on Thursday, offering up to 40 per cent off across selected fashion beauty and home ranges. Samsonite Antelao Large Suitcase These were some of the best deals released ahead of Black Friday: 1. Samsonite Antelao Large Suitcase Was: £210 Now: £63 Saving: £147 or 70% 2. Linea Breeze Champagne Flutes Was: £100 Now: £30 Saving: £70 or 70% 3. Jamie Oliver 4-piece Pan Set Was: £160 Now: £60 Saving: £100 or 62.5% 4. Corsivo Balsena Panama Jacket (variety of colours) Was: £230 Now: £92 Saving: £138 or 60% 5. Linea Merino Wool Jumper (variety of colours) Was: £55 Now: £25 Saving: £30 or 54.5% SAINSBURY'S: The supermarket giant is competing with the other 'big four', including Asda and Tesco, but some of it's top deals include discounted technology and homewares. Russell Hobbs Purifry, now £49.99 The chain started its Black Friday sale in its 24 hour stores at 1am, with shoppers queuing outside for several hours in a desperate bid to get their hands on the discounted goods. Sainsbury's best deals include: 1. Russell Hobbs Purifry Was: £149.99 Now: £49.99 Saving: £100 or 66% 2. Dolce Gusto Mini Me Was: £99.99 Now: £39.99 Saving: £60 or 60% 3. Dyson DC24 Animal Vacuum Was: £319.99 Now: £159.99 Save: £160 or 50% 4. Blaupunkt 40' LED TV Was: £299 Now: £149.99 Save: £150 or 50% 5. Kindle WiFi 4GB Touch Was: £59.99 Now: £39.99 Save: £20 or 33% Advertisement

Several videos emerged in the early hours of this morning showing severe congestion and crowds in supermarkets across Britain

In one video posted online, which claims to have been taken at a Victoria's Secret shop in the UK, customers could be seen fighting. The shocking footage shows shoppers pushing each other in the lingerie shop, although it is unclear whether it was taken in the UK or U.S.

In the footage, customers can be seen pushing and shoving each other before shouting at one another as they row over cut-price lingerie

Elsewhere, shoppers described scenes of 'carnage' as people scrambled for the best deals.

One person who bagged a coffee machine at a knock-down price tweeted: 'After the absolute carnage that is black Friday in a tesco extra in the North of England, I walked away with a £100 coffee machine for £30. (sic)'

In Cardiff, several police cars were called to a Tesco store in Western Avenue following reports of a fight between customers. Sales were reportedly temporarily halted while the alleged dispute was dealt with by staff and officers.

Police were also called to four supermarkets in London amid fears of crowd surges as the doors prepared to open just after midnight.

Images posted online showed chaotic scenes in Edmonton, with witnesses describing 'mayhem' as discounted coffee machines went on sale.

ADDICTS WHO GET A 'HIT' AT THE SHOPPING TILL Shopping is an addiction for some people who experience a 'hit' from splashing out, a psychiatrist has said. Dr Paul McLaren, a consultant at The Priory, gave an insight into the impact on the brain of hitting the shops as millions flocked to the high street and visited online stores on Black Friday. He said: 'Shopping plays on a lot of the same dopamine-seeking parts of our brain that other addictions do. It gives people a 'rush'. 'The hit, or addictive power, is in the transaction. In gambling the rush is in making the wager. 'Some people even get a thrill from the till ritual, the wrapping, handing over the card, the bleep of the till. 'Addictive shopping is rarely about the purchase which is often left in the shiny bag or sometimes returned.' He said that although online bargains are 'fine' for many savvy consumers, they are 'disastrous' for those with addictive personality traits because they are 'so divorced from the 'pain' of physically handing over money'. Dr McLaren said: 'Addicts are most likely to start shopping when they're depressed and get an emotional rush at the moment they hit 'buy'. 'Shopping offers immediacy and accessibility, just like online gambling. The hit may be either in making the purchase or waiting for and opening the delivery. 'Sometimes people trying to recover from substance addiction cross to shopping in a search for another hit. 'People become addicted to shopping when depressed, to numb painful feelings. When manic or hypomanic, we may shop with abandon with money we don't have, believing it will all come right. 'People seek relief from boredom. People need to identify the triggers, uncover the emotions that get them in trouble and cut up their credit cards.' Advertisement

The area has seen disturbances before, with several people hurt as crowds of thousands forced a nearby Ikea to shut on its opening night in 2005.

Nadina Azara Knight, 26, from London, said people behaved 'like animals'.

She said she arrived at the store with her partner shortly before midnight: 'When we arrived there were large crowds around the covered up displayed and a long queue to the click and collect.

'It was like the calm before the storm everyone was laughing and joking until the clock hit 12.01 where they were literally grabbing anything they could whether they needed it or not.'

She said groups of friends or relatives were working in teams to make sure they got their desired items by splitting up, with some grabbing boxes from the shelves before passing them to others waiting in a 'humongous' queue to collect the goods.

Police also attended Tesco stores in Willesden and Surrey Quays, just before the doors opened.

Scotland Yard said in a statement: 'Officers have worked with store staff to ensure that sale-goers were able to enter and exit the stores safely.

'No persons have been injured at any of the locations as a result of the overcrowding.'

They said no arrests had been made and officers were preparing to 'withdraw' from the locations in the early hours of this morning.

Police were also warning people to avoid the area around Bicester Village as waves of bargain hunters flooded the Oxfordshire site.

Ahead of Black Friday, the centre advertised extra discounts of up to 80 per cent on certain lines, with shops staying open until midnight.

However, as thousands of people headed to the site to bag a bargain, many were stranded in huge traffic jams as crowded car parks forced access to the centre to be closed.

Thames Valley Police said there were miles of delays on the A41, the A34 and the M40 surrounding Bicester Village.

The centre, which asked people to come later in the day if they could, tweeted: 'Due to congestion, access to Bicester Village is temporarily closed..

'Please keep checking for updates. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.'

A temporary car park was opened to try to ease the pain for travellers, but many still faced long delays, including those just trying to get home.

Many people took to Twitter to express disbelief at the chaos.

Francesca Ward said: 'Bicester village is actually having to turn people away. This is insane.'

One frustrated social media user, Dave Jaggs, tweeted: 'Worst part about the traffic in Bicester is the idiots that park on the local streets near to Bicester Village and block the paths.'

Amie Kingswell added: 'Bicester has literally gone into meltdown because of Black Friday at Bicester Village.'

The scenes of chaos were to be expected this year, following fights among customers last year when Asda and Amazon led the adoption of the U.S. Black Friday tradition.

Supermarket giant Asda continued its hefty sale this year, with some 700,000 products being offered at knock down prices, including a 40-inch TV for £139 and an Archos tablet for just £29.

John Lewis is offering a Delonghi coffee machine for half price at £595, while Marks & Spencer is launching a four-day sale with savings of up to 30 per cent. Debenhams is selling women's designer dresses at half price.

Almost half of UK shoppers (47 per cent) said they intend to buy a Black Friday deal, according to retail analysts Verdict.

However, it also expects Black Friday to be followed by £500million spent online on Monday, meaning the UK will shop its way to a £1.7billion 'cyber weekend', with a predicted record 31 million online transactions.

Visa estimated that £518million was spent online in more than 8.5million transactions – up 22 per cent on last year, making yesterday the UK’s biggest-ever internet shopping day.

Figures suggest passenger traffic on Oxford Street (pictured) between 9am and midday was a fifth higher this year than the same day in 2013

According to the New West End Company, a group of retailers and property owners in the Oxford Street area, the increase was around 29 per cent between 9am and 10am

But some shoppers were left disappointed by the much-hyped price drops, while even retailers admitted customer numbers had not reached the predicted heights

Newcastle city centre was packed today as bargain-hunters braved the wet weather to visit the shops on Black Friday

Although not all stores are taking part, several retailers have slashed their prices by up to 70 per cent, in line with U.S. discounts

Official figures are not yet in, but some retailers said their stores had been much busier than usual and in comparison with last year's Black Friday

With huge crowds, the shopworkers union Usdaw warned that shoppers should 'keep their cool' and respect workers on the tills

Although Amazon.co.uk predominantly introduced the UK to the event in 2010, local retailers have been quick to get involved.

John Lewis has promised that its Never Knowingly Undersold commitment will remain in place subject to availability.

Asda said its Black Friday event would run for two days from 8am today, with 'never before seen offers' on products ranging from mobile phones and tablets to computer games and toys.

Videogames retailer Game opened 316 stores at one minute to midnight for three hours, while doors are open later today between 6am and midnight.

The store predicts tens of thousands of customers will snap up bargains on consoles, games and accessories.

London's Westfield shopping mall said it achieved its biggest shopping days of the year on the Black Friday weekend last year, and it expected record numbers this year.

But the shopworkers union Usdaw urged shoppers to 'keep their cool' and respect those working the tills.

John Hannett, Usdaw general secretary, said: 'Black Friday can be very difficult for staff. With overcrowded shops and highly excited customers, sometimes tempers flare and things can get out of control.

HOW CONSUMERS CAN GET THE BEST AND THE WORST OUT OF BLACK FRIDAY (TABLE FROM MONEYSAVINGEXPERT) ITEM STORE PREVIOUS PRICE BLACK FRIDAY PRICE CAN I GET FOR CHEAPER ELSEWHERE? Good deals for consumers 32gb Kindle Fire HDX Amazon £299 £129 NO. Selling for £229 on Amazong Nutribullet John Lewis £85 £69.95 NO. £85 at John Lewis, Currys and Amazon PS4 + Driveclub + The Last of Us Game £479.95 £299 NO. Selling for £379 at Tesco & Toys R Us. iPad mini 1 John Lewis £199 £149 NO. Selling at Currys for £169 Bad deals for consumers Sony KDL40R483 40-inch Widescreen Full HD 1080p Television with Freeview Argos £299.99 YES. Selling on Amazon for £289.99.

'Retail staff are keen to give great customer service and are trained to provide a good shopping experience, but that can be difficult if people are angry and aggressive.

'So my message to the shopping public is clear. Enjoy Black Friday, I hope you get what you're looking for and at a great price, but please keep your cool and respect shopworkers.'

Shoppers appeared baffled at the sights, with Kayleigh Johnson posting on Twitter: 'People going mental in shops for these Black Friday sales is absolute jokes. Getting violent for a cheap TV? Calm yourselves.'

Another Twitter use Drew McGowan said: 'Tesco Silverburn has been shutdown by the police due to customers fighting with one another over £BlackFriday deals. You couldn't write it.'

Charlie Snippy wrote: 'Stop trying to make Black Friday a thing in the UK, @Tesco. It isn't a thing and we don't want it to be a thing.'

Bambie Beatrice posted on her Twitter account: 'When does Black Friday 'calm down' I want to go into asda and collect my potatoes in peace.'

One wrote: 'Tried to attend Black Friday at Stretford it was a war zone at midnight.'

Another tweeted: 'After the absolute carnage that is Black Friday in a Tesco Extra in the North of England, I walked away with a £100 coffee machine for £30.'

The top Black Friday deals revealed: Where to find the best discounts online and on the high street